Investigation of the Effectiveness of Progressive Resistance Exercise Training in the Management of Lymphedema.

NCT07448467 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Uskudar96
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the effect of progressive resistance exercise training on the clinical findings and functional outcomes of lymphedema in individuals who develop upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy).

Conditions

Lymphedema; Breast Cancer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Percentage of excess limb volume

  Limb circumference measured with a flexible tape at 5 cm intervals from the ulnar styloid process to 40 cm proximally in both limbs. Segmental volumes calculated using the truncated cone formula and summed. Excess volume expressed as the percentage difference between the affected and unaffected limb relative to the unaffected limb volume. A lower value indicates less lymphoedema.

  Baseline and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• LYMphedema Quality of Life

  Baseline and 12 weeks

• Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand

  Baseline and 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Classic lymphoedema physiotherapy alone, twice weekly for 12 weeks (24 sessions): manual lymphatic drainage (30 min), multilayer short-stretch compression bandaging, simple lymphatic exercises (15 min) and skin-care education. No resistance exercise programme was prescribed.

Other: control

exercise group

EXPERIMENTAL

Classic lymphoedema physiotherapy as in the control group, plus a home-based progressive resistance exercise programme for the upper limb, twice weekly for 12 weeks (24 sessions), using Thera-Band elastic resistance with band-colour progression every four weeks.

Other: control; Other: exercise

Interventions

control OTHER

Classic lymphedema physiotherapy will be applied.

control group; exercise group

exercise OTHER

In addition to classic lymphedema physiotherapy, a progressive resistance exercise training program will be implemented.

exercise group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female, aged 30 to 60 years
• Unilateral upper-limb lymphoedema following treatment for breast cancer (surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy), diagnosed clinically by a physician
• Excess limb volume of at least 10% relative to the unaffected limb, calculated from bilateral circumferential measurements using the truncated cone formula
• At least 3 months post-surgery
• Able to tolerate compression bandaging or a compression garment

You may not qualify if:

• Within the first 3 months after surgery
• Requiring reinitiation of active cancer treatment during the study period

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uskudar University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Re-Heal Physiotherapist Sude BOYVADAOĞLU Healthy Living Center

Adana, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Leon-Diaz R, Medina-Otero A. Prevention and Treatment of Postmastectomy Lymphedema: A Physiotherapy Perspective. Curr Oncol. 2025 Oct 3;32(10):555. doi: 10.3390/curroncol32100555.

  PMID: 41149475 BACKGROUND

• Shamsesfandabadi P, Shams Esfand Abadi M, Yin Y, Carpenter DJ, Peluso C, Hilton C, Coopey SB, Gomez J, Beriwal S, Champ CE. Resistance Training and Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Survivors. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jun 2;8(6):e2514765. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.14765.

  PMID: 40498485 BACKGROUND

• Xue T, Zhang L, Zhang D. Exercise-based interventions for postoperative rehabilitation in breast cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Aug 22;104(34):e43705. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000043705.

  PMID: 40859515 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Lymphedema; Breast Neoplasms

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Lymphatic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Breast Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Sevinj RAFILI

  Uskudar University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Suzan Aydın

  İstanbul Gelişim University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc.Prof.Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 26, 2026
• First Posted: March 4, 2026
• Study Start: March 6, 2026
• Primary Completion: June 15, 2026
• Study Completion: August 7, 2026
• Last Updated: August 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)