The Effect of Chest Mobilization and Stretching on Post Mastectomy Shoulder Dysfunction

Background: Shoulder dysfunction after mastectomy is common and can significantly reduce a patient's quality of life and upper limb functionality. Symptoms include discomfort, limited range of motion, and functional limitations. Anterior chest wall stiffness may impede optimal healing, even though conventional rehabilitation primarily targets shoulder strengthening and mobility. Aim: Was to assess stretching and chest mobilization have been suggested as supplementary treatments. Patients and Methods: Shoulder dysfunction is common post-mastectomy, affecting patients' quality of life and their capacity to perform upper limb tasks. Symptoms include discomfort, reduced range of motion (ROM), and functional limitations. While traditional rehabilitation primarily emphasizes shoulder strengthening and mobility, anterior chest wall stiffness can impede optimal recovery. Therefore, integrating stretching and chest mobilization as additional treatments is recommended for improved outcomes. Results: Improvements were substantial (p < 0.001) after therapy in both groups. In terms of range ROM, Group A outperformed Group B in three comparisons: flexion (76.17% vs. 62.86%), abduction (72.95% vs. 61.58%), and external rotation (57.45% vs. 53.83%). Both groups had improvements in SPADI ratings, although Group A saw larger decreases in pain (45.12% vs. 34.15%), disability (59.81% vs. 48.09%), and total score (51.13% vs. 39.83%). Group A was clearly the best when compared to the other groups (p = 0.001). Conclusion: After a mastectomy, shoulder function may be improved with a combination of traditional physiotherapy, chest mobilization, and stretching. Pain relief and range of motion restoration are both improved with the inclusion of chest mobilization and stretching. ？