Investigation of the effects of complex decongestive therapy applications on pain and upper extremity function in patients with breast cancer who developed adhesive capsulitis after lymphedema

In the study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of complex decongestive therapy (CDT) applications on upper extremity functions in breast cancer patients who developed adhesive capsulitis after lymphedema. Thirty patients who developed adhesive capsulitis due to lymphedema aged between 30-60 years were included in the study. Individuals were divided into two groups as randomly controlled study (n = 15) and control (n = 15). Both groups were exercised for 3 weeks, 5 days a week for 20 minutes with Biodex isokinetic exercise system, hot pack and TENS application to the shoulder joint. In addition to the adhesive capsulitis treatment, the patients in the study group received a 45-minute complex decongestive therapy session. All individuals were evaluated before and after treatment. Pain assessment was evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS), edema was evaluated with circumference and volumetric measurement, upper extremity functional status was evaluated with arm, shoulder and hand problems questionnaire (DASH). In addition, shoulder range of motion values before and after treatment were recorded. When the groups before and after the treatment were evaluated within themselves, it was seen that the patients in both groups improved in pain (p <0.05), shoulder joint range of motion (p <0.05) and upper extremity functional status (p <0.001). When the environmental and volumetric measurements were examined, there was a statistically significant decrease in the circumference and volumetric measurements of the individuals in the study group compared to the pre-treatment (p <0.05); There was no statistically significant difference in the measurements of the individuals in the control group (p> 0.05). When the data obtained from the study were examined, it was seen that complex decongestive therapy applications were especially effective in reducing lymphedema in patients with breast cancer who developed adhesive capsulitis due to lymphedema. As a result, we think that adding CDT to the treatment program will be beneficial in addition to routine physiotherapy.