INTERMITTENT PNEUMATIC COMPRESSION ACTS SYNERGISTICALLY WITH MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE IN COMPLEX DECONGESTIVE PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR BREAST CANCER TREATMENT-RELATED LYMPHEDEMA

Abstract

The application of intermittent pneumaticcompression (IPC) as a part of complexdecongestive physiotherapy (CDP) remainscontroversial. The aim of this study was toinvestigate whether the combination of IPCwith manual lymph drainage (MLD) couldimprove CDP treatment outcomes in womenwith secondary lymphedema after breastcancer treatment. A randomized study wasundertaken with 13 subjects receiving MLD(60 min) and 14 receiving MLD (30 min) plusIPC (30 min) followed by standardizedcomponents of CDP including multilayeredcompression bandaging, physical exercise,and skin care 10 times in a 2-week-period.Efficacy of treatment was evaluated by limbvolume reduction and a subjective symptomquestionnaire at end of the treatment, and oneand two months after beginning treatment.The two groups had similar demographic andclinical characteristics. Mean reductions inlimb volumes for each group at the end oftherapy, and at one and two months were7.93% and 3.06%, 9.02% and 2.9%, and 9.62%and 3.6%, respectively (p<0.05 from baselinefor each group and also between groups ateach measurement). Although a significantdecrease in the subjective symptom survey wasfound for both groups compared to baseline,no significant difference between the groupswas found at any time point. The applicationof IPC with MLD provides a synergisticenhancement of the effect of CDP in armvolume reduction.