The Effects of Complex Exercise on Shoulder Range of Motion and Pain for Women with Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema: a Single-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: This study was to investigate the effects of complex exercise on shoulder range of motion and pain for women with breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Methods: 69 women participated in this study and then they were randomly allocated to complex exercise group (n = 35) or the conventional decongestive therapy group (n = 34). All subjects received 8 sessions for 4 weeks. To identify the effects on shoulder range of motion and pain, goniometer and visual analog scale were used, respectively. The outcome measurements were performed before and after the 4 week intervention.

Results: After 4 weeks, complex exercise group had greater improvements in shoulder range of motion and pain compared with the conventional decongestive therapy group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that complex exercise is beneficial to improve shoulder range of motion as well as pain of the women with breast cancer-related lymphedema. Complex exercise would be useful to improve shoulder range of motion and pain of the women with breast cancer-related lymphedema.