Rehabilitation in women after mastectomy: Clinical aspects

Aim: To assess the efficacy of comprehensive physiotherapy in women after mastectomy. The paper attempts to answer the following research questions: 1. How does physiotherapy influence the size of oedema? 2. What is the correlation between physiotherapy outcomes and sociodemographic factors? 3. What is the correlation between physiotherapy outcomes and the following: BMI, time from procedure, time to the development of oedema after procedure, type of management after surgery.

Materials and Methods: A total of 32 female patients after unilateral mastectomy performed at the Holy Cross Cancer Center in Kielce underwent treatment in this study. The mean age of study patients was 68.5 years. The duration of lymphoedema rehabilitation was 2 to 4 weeks (3.6 weeks on average). Almost three-fourths (71.9%) of the patients were treated for 4 weeks. The physiotherapy included respiratory exercises, kinesiotherapy, lymphatic massage, pneumatic massage, and whirlpool baths.

Results: Significantly lower arm circumference values were achieved in the affected limb after physiotherapy as compared to the pre-treatment values.

Conclusions: 1. Breast cancer is a difficult clinical and social problem in Poland and globally.2. Implementation of an appropriate physical therapy program both before and after surgery determines the reduction of lymphedema in women undergoing surgery.