J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2005 Feb;29(1):98-101.

Effects of Intensive Early Rehabilitation Program in Postmastectomy Patients

• Song WH
• Hwang CH
• Na HJ
• Sung IY
• Ahn SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether early postmastectomy rehabilitation program could improve shoulder function and upper limb edema. METHOD: 40 patients who underwent either a breast conserving procedure or a modified radical mastectomy were included. Among 40 patients, 20 patients recieved early postmastectomy rehabilitation program and 20 patients were recieved only instruction for exercise. The patients were assessed on the three days after surgery and one month after surgery. The range of motion (ROM) of shoulder, pain on mobility of shoulder and arm circumference were evaluated. RESULTS: One month after surgery, both groups showed improvements in shoulder motion range, pain and edema. But there were significantly better in early rehabilitation group than control group (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that early postmastectomy rehabilitation program was beneficial in regaining the shoulder motion and in reduction of pain and edema.

Keyword

Breast cancer; Range of motion; Rehabilitation program; Edema

MeSH Terms

Arm
Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Edema
Humans
Mastectomy, Modified Radical
Range of Motion, Articular
Rehabilitation*
Shoulder
Upper Extremity