title: Exercise and secondary lymphedema : safety, potential benefits, and research issues
creator: Hayes , Sandra
creator: Reul-Hirche, Hildegard 
creator: Turner, J.
subject: 110321 Rehabilitation and Therapy (excl. Physiotherapy)
subject: 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
subject: 111299 Oncology and Carcinogenesis not elsewhere classified
subject: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
subject: BREAST CANCER
subject: RECOVERY
subject: TREATMENT-RELATED SIDE EFFECTS
subject: ARM SWELLING
description: Participating in regular physical activity is encouraged following breast cancer (BC) treatment, except for those who have subsequently developed lymphoedema.  We designed a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of participating in a supervised, mixed-type, moderate-intensity exercise program among women with lymphoedema following breast cancer.  Women <76 years who had completed BC treatment at least six months prior and subsequently developed unilateral, upper-limb lymphoedema were randomly allocated to an intervention (n=16) or control (n=16) group. The intervention group (IG) participated in 20 supervised group exercise sessions over 12 weeks, while the control group (CG) was instructed to continue habitual activities. Lymphoedema status was assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy (impedance ratio between limbs) and perometry (volume difference between limbs).  Mean baseline measures were similar for the IG (1.13+0.15 and 337+307ml, respectively) and CG (1.13+0.15 and 377+416ml, respectively) and no changes were observed over time.  However, 2 women in the IG no longer had evidence of lymphoedema by study end.  Average attendance was over 70% of supervised sessions, and there were no withdrawals.  The results indicate that, at worst, exercise does not exacerbate secondary lymphoedema.  Women with secondary lymphoedema should be encouraged to be physically active, optimising their physical and psychosocial recovery.
publisher: American College of Sports Medicine
date: 2009
type: Journal Article
format: application/pdf
relation: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/28356/1/c28356A.pdf
relation: DOI:10.1249/MSS.0b013e31818b98fb
relation:    Hayes , Sandra, Reul-Hirche, Hildegard ,  & Turner, J.   (2009)    Exercise and secondary lymphedema : safety, potential benefits, and research issues.  Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 41(3), pp. 483-489.    
identifier: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/28356/
rights: Copyright 2009 The American College of Sports Medicine
source: Faculty of Health; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation