TREATMENT OF LYMPHEDEMA BY COMPLEX PHYSICAL THER APY, WITH AND WITHOU T ORAL AND TOPICAL BENZOPYRONES: What Should Therapists and Patients Expect

Abstract

Using previously presented data, from an open multi-centered trial, the Medians andThird Quartiles were calculated for the overall edema reductions the "average" patientreceived from an "average" therapist using Complex Physical Therapy (CPT) on 628lymphedematous limbs. These data provide therapists and patients a general guideline as tothe minimal reductions which can be expected in three quarters of patients from averagetherapists, using CPT with or without the administration of benzo-pyrones. Benzo-pyroneswere considered separately: oral (given for three months before and for 11 months after thecourse of CPT) and topical (during and after CPT). Depending on which measure of edemaand its alterations were used, these reductions increased those from CPT alone from 130% to200% and, after one year, between 150% to 300%. Whereas the effects of oral and topicalbenzo-pyrones were not statistically different, their combined usage was more effective thanuse of either alone.