Effectiveness of individualized physical rehabilitation programs for upper extremity disorders in women with post-mastectomy syndrome

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of individualized physical rehabilitation programs targeted at improving functional state of upper extremity in women with post-mastectomy syndrome. Method: Eighty five women with late symptoms of post-mastectomy syndrome were enrolled in the study. The participants were randomly enrolled for the first individualized program (Main Group, n=45) and for the second individualized program (Comparison Group, n=40). The first program included aqua aerobics (aqua jogging, aqua building, aqua stretching), conditional swimming, and recreational aerobics; the second program included conditional swimming and Pilates exercises. Results: It was found that most of the investigated anthropometry and goniometry parameters in both groups steadily improved during the year of rehabilitation. After 6 months of rehabilitation the average values of active range of flexion and abduction were statistically higher in women Main Group  compared with Comparison Group by 10 degrees (p<0.001) and 6.43 degrees (p<0.01), respectively. The severity of lymphedema in the Main Group was significantly lower at the area of forearm by 0.39 cm (p<0.05) compared with Comparison Group. Conclusions: Findings have suggested that developed individualized physical rehabilitation programs could be considered as effective methods for improvement of the shoulder range of motion and decrease breast cancer-related lymphedema in patients with post-mastectomy syndrome.