%0 Journal Article
%T Physical therapy after total mastectomy surgery in breast cancer
%A Andreia Cisma£¿
%A Loredana Me£¿in£¿
%A Alexandra Lionte
%A Lucian Hoble
%J Timisoara Physical Education and Rehabilitation Journal
%D 2011
%I Mirton Publishing
%X Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the whole world. It is caused by the development of malignant cells in the breast. In cancer patients, physical therapy has resulted in improved physical functioning, cardiovascular fitness, sleep, quality of life, psychological and social well-being, and self esteem, and significant decreases in fatigue, anxiety and depression. Aim: The aim of this study is to underline the importance of physical therapy in the rehabilitation of patients after total mastectomy surgery in breast cancer. Material and methods: We investigated 14 women aged between 45 and 75 years old, diagnosed with breast cancer (stages I¨CIII), having a total mastectomy surgery 6 months ago. At the beginning and after 2 weeks of intervention, the subject`s evaluations consisted in: each patient was evaluated in regard to shoulder flexibility (from Test 1 to Test 8); on the other hand, we measured the upper limb circumferences on the surgery side. The physical therapy programme consisted in 10 sessions of 20 minutes lymphatic drainage and 10 minutes individualized physical therapy programmes. Results: At the end of intervention, it was observed a score improvement at Test 2 (from 1.28¡À0.99 to 1.85¡À0.53, p=0.041), Test 3 (from 0.42¡À0.85 to 1.57¡À0.85, p=0.001), Test 7 (from 0.5¡À0.51 to 0.85¡À0.36, p=0.019) and Test 8 (from 1.28¡À0.99 to 1.85¡À0.53, p=0.041). In terms of total score (Total), the improvement was also significant increased (from 13.25¡À9.08 to 18.13¡À10.12, p=0.044). Circumference values significantly improved at arm (from 30.36¡À4.25 to 29.79¡À4.41, p=0.001), forearm (from 23¡À2.18 to 22.04¡À2.26, p=0.001) and wrist level (from 17.46¡À1.74 to 17.11¡À1.67, p=0.012). Despite the intervention, elbow circumference didn`t reached the statistical significance (p<0.05). Conclusions: After 2 weeks of intervention we noticed a significant improvement at most of the parameters which means a life quality increase in patients with breast cancer.
%K breast cancer
%K lymphatic drainage
%K lymphoedema prophylaxis
%K physical therapy
%U http://www.tperj.ro/en/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TPERJ_Issue_7_vol_4_Art_6.pdf