Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Annals of Surgical Oncology
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 7/2019

01-07-2019 | Breast Cancer | Breast Oncology

Effects of Progressive Upper Limb Exercises and Muscle Relaxation Training on Upper Limb Function and Health-Related Quality of Life Following Surgery in Women with Breast Cancer: A Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors: Kaina Zhou, PhD, Wen Wang, MS candidate, Jinghua An, PhD candidate, Minjie Li, PhD candidate, Jin Li, PhD, Xiaomei Li, PhD

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 7/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of progressive upper limb exercises and muscle relaxation training (PULE-MRT) on upper limb function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following surgery in Chinese mainland women with breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Overall, 102 patients following surgery (i.e. mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery, with sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection) were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 51) or control (n = 51) groups. The former received PULE-MRT plus routine nursing care, whereas the latter received only routine nursing care for 6 months. Upper limb function and HRQoL were measured at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months using Constant–Murley scores (CMS) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast version 4.0 (FACT-Bv4.0), respectively.

Results

All patients in the intervention group completed the exercises and training, with 100% compliance and no adverse events. The intervention group had significantly higher total CMS and FACT-Bv4.0 scores at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up than the control group. The significant effects in total CMS comparisons were group (F = 25.30, p < 0.001), time (F = 18.02, p < 0.001), and group-by-time interaction (F = 9.95, p < 0.001), and, in FACT-Bv4.0, total score comparisons were group (F = 15.87, p < 0.001), time (F = 17.92, p < 0.001), and group-by-time interaction (F = 7.88, p < 0.001). Similar results were observed for the scale scores of CMS and FACT-Bv4.0.

Conclusions

PULE-MRT had positive effects on improving upper limb function and HRQoL following surgery in women with BC and could be used as an optional rehabilitation management strategy in post-surgery BC patient populations.
Trial Registration ChiCTR-IOR-16008253 (Chictr.org.cn; 9 April 2016).
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Carriere G, Sanmartin C, Murison P. Using data linkage to report surgical treatment of breast cancer in Canada. Health Rep. 2018;29:3–8.PubMed
2.
Recchia TL, Prim AC, Luz CM. Upper limb functionality and quality of life in women with five-year survival after breast cancer surgery. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2017;39:115–122.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Ho PJ, Gernaat SAM, Hartman M, Verkooijen HM. Health-related quality of life in Asian patients with breast cancer: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2018;8:e020512.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Mirandola D, Miccinesi G, Muraca MG, et al. Longitudinal assessment of the impact of adapted physical activity on upper limb disability and quality of life in breast cancer survivors from an Italian cohort. Support Care Cancer. 2018;26:329–332.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Manneville F, Rotonda C, Conroy T, Bonnetain F, Guillemin F, Omorou AY. The impact of physical activity on fatigue and quality of life during and after adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Cancer. 2018;124:797–806.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Rogers LQ, Courneya KS, Anton PM, et al. Effects of multicomponent physical activity behavior change intervention on fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptomatology in breast cancer survivors: randomized trial. Psychooncology. 2017;26:1901–1906.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Lahart IM, Carmichael AR, Nevill AM, Kitas GD, Metsios GS. The effects of a home-based physical activity intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. J Sports Sci. 2018;36:1077–1086.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Galiano-Castillo N, Cantarero-Villanueva I, Fernandez-Lao C, et al. Telehealth system: a randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of an internet-based exercise intervention on quality of life, pain, muscle strength, and fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Cancer. 2016;122:3166–3174.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Zou LY, Yang L, He XL, Sun M, Xu JJ. Effects of aerobic exercise on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a meta-analysis. Tumour Biol. 2014;35:5659–5667.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Cheema BS, Kilbreath SL, Fahey PP, Delaney GP, Atlantis E. Safety and efficacy of progressive resistance training in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2014;148:249–268.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Kilbreath SL, Refshauge KM, Beith JM, et al. Upper limb progressive resistance training and stretching exercises following surgery for early breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012;133:667–676.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Pan Y, Yang K, Wang Y, Zhang L, Liang H. Could yoga practice improve treatment-related side effects and quality of life for women with breast cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2017;13:e79–e95.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Larkey LK, Roe DJ, Weihs KL, et al. Randomized controlled trial of Qigong/Tai Chi Easy on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Ann Behav Med. 2015;49:165–176.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Dieli-Conwright CM, Parmentier JH, Sami N, et al. Adipose tissue inflammation in breast cancer survivors: effects of a 16-week combined aerobic and resistance exercise training. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2018;168:147–157.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Sun FK, Hung CM, Yao Y, Lu CY, Chiang CY. The effects of muscle relaxation and therapeutic walking on depression, suicidal ideation, and quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Cancer Nurs. 2017;40:e39–e48.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Shahriari M, Dehghan M, Pahlavanzadeh S, Hazini A. Effects of progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery and deep diaphragmatic breathing on quality of life in elderly with breast or prostate cancer. J Educ Health Promot. 2017;6:1.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Amaral MT, Freire de Oliveira MM, Ferreira Nde O, Guimaraes RV, Sarian LO, Guigel MS. Manual therapy associated with upper limb exercises versus exercises alone for shoulder rehabilitation in postoperative breast cancer. Physiother Theory. Pract. 2012;28:299–306.CrossRef
18.
Kneis S, Wehrle A, Ilaender A, Volegova-Neher N, Gollhofer A, Bertz H. Results from a pilot study of Handheld Vibration: exercise intervention reduces upper-limb dysfunction and fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: VibBra study. Integr Cancer Ther. 2018;17:717–727.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Zhou K, Li X, Li J, et al. A clinical randomized controlled trial of music therapy and progressive muscle relaxation training in female breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy: results on depression, anxiety and length of hospital stay. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2015;19:54–59.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Yoo HJ, Ahn SH, Kim SB, Kim WK, Han OS. Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation training and guided imagery in reducing chemotherapy side effects in patients with breast cancer and in improving their quality of life. Support Care Cancer. 2005;13:826–833.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Huang Y, Wang C, Qiu L, Shang L. Influence of eight-section brocade on the quality of life of chemotherapy patients after breast cancer radical mastectomy. Int J Nurs. 2017;36:1591–1594.
22.
Wang Y, Sun X, Wang Y, Zhou L, Fang H, Liu L. Effect of Taijiquan exercise on the recovery of limb function and the quality of life after surgery of breast cancer patients. China Sport Sci Technol. 2010;52:125–128.
23.
Constant CR, Murley AH. A clinical method of functional assessment of the shoulder. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1987;214:160–164.
24.
Wan C, Zhang D, Yang Z, et al. Validation of the simplified Chinese version of the FACT-B for measuring quality of life for patients with breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007;106:413–418.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Brady MJ, Cella DF, Mo F, et al. Reliability and validity of the functional assessment of cancer therapy—breast quality-of-life instrument. J Clin Oncol. 1997;15:974–986.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Effects of Progressive Upper Limb Exercises and Muscle Relaxation Training on Upper Limb Function and Health-Related Quality of Life Following Surgery in Women with Breast Cancer: A Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors
Kaina Zhou, PhD
Wen Wang, MS candidate
Jinghua An, PhD candidate
Minjie Li, PhD candidate
Jin Li, PhD
Xiaomei Li, PhD
Publication date
01-07-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 7/2019
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-019-07305-y

Other articles of this Issue 7/2019

Annals of Surgical Oncology 7/2019 Go to the issue

Thoracic Oncology

Better Survival After 4L Lymph Node Dissection for Early-Stage, Left-Sided, Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Are We Debating a False Duality?

Breast Oncology

Germline Genetic Testing: What the Breast Surgeon Needs to Know

Colorectal Cancer

Role of the Interval from Completion of Neoadjuvant Therapy to Surgery in Postoperative Morbidity in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Pancreatic Tumors

Exosomes from Pancreatic Juice: A Step Closer to the Holy Grail?

Endocrine Tumors

The Prognosis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer with Initial Distant Metastasis is Strongly Associated with Extensive Extrathyroidal Extension: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ASO Author Reflections

ASO Author Reflections: Routine Lymphadenectomy Should be Recommended Regardless of Morphologic Subtype of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma