Efficacy of core stabilization exercises applied with complex decongestive physiotherapy in patients with cancer related lower extremity lymphedema

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of core stabilization exercises applied with Phase I Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy (CDP) on edema status, exercise capacity, physical activity level, lower extremity functionality, balance and quality of life parameters in unilateral lower extremity lymphedema due to cancer. The study included 26 patients between the ages of 43-79 years with a diagnosis of unilateral lower extremity lymphedema due to cancer, who were admitted to the Lymphedema outpatient clinic of Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital and met the inclusion criteria. Patients were randomly divided into treatment group (n=13) and control group (n=13). The treatment group received phase I CDP and Core Stabilization exercises. In the control group, only phase I CDP was applied. The treatment of both groups was performed 5 days a week for 4 weeks. In the treatment group, core stabilization exercises were performed 3 days a week for 4 weeks before phase I CDP treatment. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were recorded at the beginning of treatment. Edema status was assessed by circumference measurement and frustum volume calculation method; exercise capacity by 6 Minute Walking Test (6MWT); physical activity level by International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ); lower extremity functionality by Lower Extremity Functionality Scale (LEFS); balance by Berg Balance Scale (BBS); quality of life by Lymphedema Quality of Life Scale-Leg (LYMQOL). Body mass index (BMI) was also evaluated. All parameters were repeated at the beginning and end of treatment. In post-treatment measurements, improvement was observed in all parameters in both groups. In addition, the treatment group showed more significant improvement in circumference measurements, physical activity level, balance, lower extremity functionality and quality of life parameters (p<0.05). Improvements in BMI, edema volume and exercise capacity parameters were similar in both groups (p>0.05). The results of this study showed that core stabilization exercises given in addition to Phase I CDP were effective in parameters related to edema status, exercise capacity, physical activity level, balance, lower extremity functionality and quality of life. It was concluded that core stabilization exercises are an alternative exercise model that can be preferred in the treatment of lower extremity lymphedema.