Cebicci MA, Sutbeyaz ST, Goksu SS, Hocaoglu S, Oguz A, Atilabey A, et al.
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Date of publication 2016 Sep 1;volume 97(9):1520-1525.
1. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Sep;97(9):1520-1525. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.02.019.
Epub 2016 Mar 15.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Pilot
Study.
Cebicci MA(1), Sutbeyaz ST(2), Goksu SS(3), Hocaoglu S(2), Oguz A(3), Atilabey
A(2).
Author information:
(1)Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kayseri Training and
Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: maykaccebicci@gmail.com.
(2)Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kayseri Training and
Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
(3)Department of Medical Oncology, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital,
Kayseri, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of extracorporeal shock wave
therapy (ESWT) in patients with secondary lymphedema after breast cancer
treatment.
DESIGN: Prospective clinical pilot study.
SETTING: Education and research hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: Women with a diagnosis of lymphedema secondary to breast cancer
(N=11).
INTERVENTIONS: Patients were treated for 12 sessions of ESWT with 2500 impulses
each. The treatment frequency was 4Hz in multiple shock mode. The energy flow
density during treatment was equal to a working pressure of 2 bar.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was volumetric measurements.
The secondary outcome measures were the short version of the Disabilities of the
Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) and the brief version of the
World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF). Assessments were
conducted by the same investigator at baseline, posttreatment, and at 1, 3, and 6
months after treatment for all patients.
RESULTS: Significant reduction was found in the amount of lymphedema with ESWT
treatment in all patients, and this reduction was maintained for 6 months. A
statistically significant reduction was observed in volumetric measurements for
the follow-up period (P=.001). The mean volume displacement of the affected upper
extremity before treatment was 870.45±384.19mL at 6 months, and after the
treatment it was 604.54±381.74mL. In addition, improvements were observed in the
QuickDASH functional assessment tool and in the physical health domain of the
WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (P=.002 and P=.007, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: ESWT was shown to provide a reduction in the amount of lymphedema in
patients with lymphedema secondary to breast cancer. Also, a marked improvement
was observed in the functional status and quality of life of study patients.
Treatment efficacy was maintained in the long term. As a noninvasive, novel, and
effective method, ESWT is a promising treatment modality for the treatment of
lymphedema, which is a chronic, progressive, and refractory condition.
Copyright © 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.02.019
PMID: 26987620 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
