Is Continuous Passive Motion Effective in Patients with Lymphedema? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Lymphedema Management

Background:

• Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common complication following cancer treatment.
• Effective management strategies for BCRL are crucial for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of continuous passive motion (CPM) shoulder flexion exercise as an adjunct to complete decongestive therapy (CDT) for BCRL.
• To assess the impact of CPM on lymphedema volume, shoulder range of motion (ROM), functional status, and quality of life in BCRL patients.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled study involving 30 patients with BCRL.
• Intervention group received CDT plus CPM; control group received CDT alone for 15 sessions.
• Outcomes measured included limb volume, shoulder ROM, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer (FACT-B4) scores.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant improvements in ROM, volumetric differences, DASH, and FACT-B4 scores post-treatment.
• No significant differences were found between groups in volumetric differences, ROM, or DASH scores.
• The FACT-B4 physical well-being subscores were significantly better in the intervention group receiving CPM.

Conclusions:

• Continuous passive motion (CPM) shoulder flexion exercise, when added to complete decongestive therapy (CDT), did not demonstrate a significant benefit in reducing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) volume or improving shoulder range of motion.
• While CPM may offer a slight improvement in physical well-being for BCRL patients, it does not provide additional advantages over CDT alone for the primary outcomes studied.