Efficacy of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a cross-over randomized trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the efficacy of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy and manual lymphatic drainage in the treatment of chronic upper limb breast cancer-related lymphoedema.

DESIGN:

Cross-over single-blind random clinical trial.

SETTING:

Rehabilitation service.

PARTICIPANTS:

Thirty-six women with chronic upper limb breast cancer-related lymphoedema.

METHODS:

Patients were randomized to undergo 10 sessions of manual lymphatic drainage followed by 10 sessions of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy or to undergo first low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy followed by manual lymphatic drainage. There was a month of washout time between treatments. Each patient was examined just before and after each treatment. Researchers and outcome assessors were blinded for assigned treatment.

MEASURES:

Outcomes were lymphoedema volume, pain, heaviness and tightness, and health-related quality of life measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Questionnaire for Breast Cancer version 4 (FACT-B+4). Carry-over, period and treatment effects were analysed. Treatment effect was assessed using paired t-test.

RESULTS:

Thirty patients finalized treatment. Comparing the changes in low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy with manual lymphatic drainage changes, there were no significant differences. Low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy did not reduce lymphoedema volume (mean of change = 19.77 mL, P = 0.36), but significant reductions were observed in pain, heaviness and tightness (mean of change = 13.1, 16.2 and 6.4 mm, respectively), and FACT-B+4 summaries improved significantly (Trial Outcome Index mean of change = 5.4, P = 0.015). Manual lymphatic drainage showed no significant changes in any of the outcomes

CONCLUSION:

Although there are no significant differences between treatment changes, the observed trend towards a better health-related quality of life is remarkable in low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy.

• Authors: Roser Belmonte, Marta Tejero, Montse Ferrer, Josep Maria Muniesa, Esther Duarte, Oriol Cunillera, Ferran Escalada
• Journal: Clinical rehabilitation (Clin Rehabil) Vol. 26 Issue 7 Pg. 607-18 (Jul 2012) ISSN: 1477-0873 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22172923 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Aged
• Breast Neoplasms (complications, surgery)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Drainage
• Electric Stimulation Therapy
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphedema (etiology, therapy)
• Postoperative Complications (etiology, therapy)
• Quality of Life
• Sickness Impact Profile
• Single-Blind Method
• Treatment Outcome