TY - JOUR
T1 - Progressive resistance training to prevent arm lymphedema in the first year after breast cancer surgery
T2 - Results of a randomized controlled trial
AU - Ammitzbøll, Gunn
AU - Johansen, Christoffer
AU - Lanng, Charlotte
AU - Andersen, Elisabeth Wreford
AU - Kroman, Niels
AU - Zerahn, Bo
AU - Hyldegaard, Ole
AU - Wittenkamp, Merete Celano
AU - Dalton, Susanne Oksbjerg
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Background: Existing research suggests that progressive resistance training (PRT) after breast cancer (BC) surgery is safe, but the preventive effect on arm lymphedema has yet to be determined. Methods: Women aged 18 to 75 years who were undergoing BC surgery with axillary lymph node dissection were eligible for the study. Recruited on the day of surgery, participants were allocated to intervention or usual care by computer randomization. The intervention consisted of PRT 3 times per week: in the first 20 weeks as a supervised group exercise and in the last 30 weeks as a self-administered exercise. The primary outcome was arm lymphedema, which was defined as a >3% increase in the interlimb volume difference by water displacement. Measurements were made at the baseline and at a 12-month follow-up by physiotherapists blinded to group allocation. Analyses of effects included t tests and regression models; missing data were addressed by multiple imputation. Results: Among the 158 randomized women, no mean group difference was found in arm volume (0.3%; 95% confidence interval, –1.7% to 2.3%) or lymphedema incidence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.8). None of the participants exited the program because of adverse events. Conclusions: This study provides no evidence that PRT can prevent arm lymphedema in the first year after BC, but the results corroborate the importance and safety of resistance training for patients, including women at high risk for lymphedema.
AB - Background: Existing research suggests that progressive resistance training (PRT) after breast cancer (BC) surgery is safe, but the preventive effect on arm lymphedema has yet to be determined. Methods: Women aged 18 to 75 years who were undergoing BC surgery with axillary lymph node dissection were eligible for the study. Recruited on the day of surgery, participants were allocated to intervention or usual care by computer randomization. The intervention consisted of PRT 3 times per week: in the first 20 weeks as a supervised group exercise and in the last 30 weeks as a self-administered exercise. The primary outcome was arm lymphedema, which was defined as a >3% increase in the interlimb volume difference by water displacement. Measurements were made at the baseline and at a 12-month follow-up by physiotherapists blinded to group allocation. Analyses of effects included t tests and regression models; missing data were addressed by multiple imputation. Results: Among the 158 randomized women, no mean group difference was found in arm volume (0.3%; 95% confidence interval, –1.7% to 2.3%) or lymphedema incidence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.8). None of the participants exited the program because of adverse events. Conclusions: This study provides no evidence that PRT can prevent arm lymphedema in the first year after BC, but the results corroborate the importance and safety of resistance training for patients, including women at high risk for lymphedema.
KW - axillary lymph node dissection
KW - breast cancer
KW - breast neoplasms
KW - lymphedema
KW - muscle strength
KW - resistance training
U2 - 10.1002/cncr.31962
DO - 10.1002/cncr.31962
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30633334
AN - SCOPUS:85059898165
SN - 0008-543X
VL - 125
SP - 1683
EP - 1692
JO - Cancer
JF - Cancer
IS - 10
ER -
