Comparative study between the aquatic physiotherapy and the conventional for lymphedema reduction after surgical treatment for breast cancer: randomized clinical trial
Keywords:
Physical therapy, Breast neoplasms, LymphedemaAbstract
Objective: Thepresent study has for objective to compare two methods ofphysiotherapeutic treatments for
lymphedema after surgical treatment for breast cancer. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was used.
Had been part ofthe research 58 women, submitted to the surgical treatment for the breast cancer, who
had developed lymphedema ofsuperior member, being the patients divided in two groups of 29 patients
each, and this way, one was treated with the aquatic physiotherapy and the other with the conventional physiotherapy, the lymphedema was measured through the perimeter of superior member. Results: The
groups demonstrated perimetrical variable homogeneity. The group submitted to the aquatic physiotherapy demonstrated a significant reduction of lymphedema in all the seven evaluated points, before and after the treatment, while the group submitted to the conventional physiotherapy, presented reduction in
only three of thepoints (p < 0.05). Discussion: The hydrostatic pressure, exerted equally on the body, and directly proportional to the depth, acts in favor of the lymphatic draining, being able to reduce the lym- phedema. Conclusion: The aquatic physiotherapy can be considered an efficient method for treatment
of lymphedema aftersurgical treatmentfor breast cancer, considering the homogenical reduction result of
the superior member perometer.
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