Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Mar

Hayes SC, Reul-Hirche H, Turner J.
School of Public Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical
Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia. sc.ha...@qut.edu.au

PURPOSE: Participating in regular physical activity is encouraged
after treatment for breast cancer, with exception of those who have
subsequently developed lymphedema. The purpose of this project was to
investigate, in a randomized controlled trial, the effect of
participating in a supervised, mixed-type exercise program on
lymphedema status among women with lymphedema after breast cancer.

METHODS: Women younger than 76 yr, who completed breast cancer
treatment at least 6 months prior and had subsequently developed
unilateral, upper-limb lymphedema, were randomly allocated to an
intervention (n = 16) or control (n = 16) group. The intervention
group (IG) participated in 20 supervised, group, aerobic and
resistance exercise sessions over 12 wk, whereas the control group
(CG) was instructed to continue habitual activities. Lymphedema status
was assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy (impedance ratio between
limbs) and perometry (volume difference between limbs), and
independent t-tests (two-tailed P < 0.05) were used to determine
statistical significance of observed changes.

RESULTS: Mean ratio and volume measures at baseline were similar for
the IG (1.13 +/- 0.15 and 337 +/- 307 mL, respectively) and the CG
(1.13 +/- 0.19 and 377 +/- 416 mL, respectively), and no changes were
observed over time for either group. Although no group change was
observed between preintervention and 3-month follow-up for the IG
(ratio and volume change = 0.02 +/- 0.07 and 2 +/- 71 mL,
respectively), two women in this group no longer had evidence of
lymphedema by study end. Average attendance was more than 70% of
supervised sessions, there were no withdrawals, and several
qualitative comments from participants support the program
acceptability.

CONCLUSIONS: The results from this pilot study indicate that, at
minimum, exercise does not exacerbate secondary lymphedema. Women with
secondary lymphedema should be encouraged to be physically active,
optimizing their physical and psychosocial recovery.

Lippincott, Williams & Williams

http://www.acsm-msse.org/pt/re/msse/abstract.00005768-200903000-00001...