Open AccessEFFECTIVENESS OF MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE IN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER RELATED LYMPHEDEMA
Author(s) -
Nazia Iqbal,
Hussaini Begum,
Amber Khan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
pakistan journal of rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2311-3863
pISSN - 2309-7833
DOI - 10.36283/pjr.zu.7.2/008
Subject(s) - lymphedema , medicine , breast cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , lymphatic system , physical therapy , stage (stratigraphy) , bandage , cancer , surgery , nursing , paleontology , immunology , biology
BACKGROUND & AIMThe body of evidence related to higher incidence of breast cancer related lymphedema after breast surgeries concluded compromiseQuality of Life (QoL) among women over the past decade. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Manual LymphaticDrainage (MLD) in improving QoL among women with Breast cancer related Lymphedema.STUDY DESIGN & PARTICIPANTSA Quasi Experimental study was conducted on women of the age 36-60 years with stage I and II breast cancer related lymphedema atRehabilitation Department of a tertiary care Hospital.METHODSTotal 70 women recruited with lymphedema were assessed at baseline and after treatment on Lymphedema Life Impact Scale. Manuallymphatic drainage technique was applied for 3 days in a week for 6 weeks with a compression bandage for first 4 weeks.RESULTSThe findings showed that Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) technique significantly improves the Lymphedema Life Impact Scalescore after intervention p <0.05 notably in psychological domain of the scale p=0.0001 furthermore, the percentage of impairment wasalso reduced significantly from 75.98% to 44.18%.