Comparison of the effects of scapulatorasic stabilization exercises applied in addition to complex decongestive physiotherapy on upper extremity functions, posture, balance and quality of life compared to complex decongestive physiotherapy alone in women with lymphedema after mastectomy

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Scapulatorasic Stabilization Exercises (SSE) aplied in addition to Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy (CDP) on upper extremity functions, posture, balance and quality of life compared to CDP alone in women who developed lymphedema (LE) after mastectomy. The patients were randomly divided into two groups CDP (n:12) and CDP+SSE (n:13). The decongestive phase of CDP treatment was applied to CBP group for 3 weeks, 5 days a week. Then, protection phase was started and the patients were followed up for another 5 weeks in this phase. In CDP+SSE group, SSE was applied 3 days a week for 8 weeks in addition to the treatment in the CDP group, accompanied by a physiotherapist. Measurements were made 3 times before treatment (BT), at the end of the Decongestive phase (DP), and in the 5th week of the Protection phase (PH). LE severity was evaluated by circumference measurement, LE symptoms by visual analog scale, joint range of motion by goniometer, scapuloracic muscle strength by dynamometer, scapular endurance by Scapular Isometric Compression Test, scapular dyskinesia by Lateral Scapular Slide Test, upper extremity functionality by Arm, Shoulder and Hand Problems Questionnaire, thoracic posture by inclinometry, general posture by the New York Posture Scale and Posturescreen Mobile application, balance by Mini-BESTest, and quality of life by the Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire. In the comparison between the groups after treatment, scapuloracic muscle strength and muscle endurance, upper extremity function, general body posture, amount of anterior deviation and degree of inclination of the head, and quality of life improved more for the CDP+SSE group than in the CDP group (p<0.05) on the symptom subscale. In conclusion, applying SSE in addition to CDP in patients with upper extremity LE may contribute more to the improvement of upper extremity functions, scapular muscle strength and endurance, posture and quality of life.