Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a complex rehabilitation (CR) program and complex decongestive therapy (CDT) on edema status, physical function, and quality of life in patients with unilateral lower-limb lymphedema after gynecologic cancer surgery.
Methods: In this randomized pilot study, 40 patients with secondary unilateral lymphedema, after gynecologic surgery for cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer, that had been diagnosed based on clinical assessment and 10% volume differences between the legs were randomly assigned to the CDT (n=20) and CDT combined with CR (CRCDT; n=20) groups. CR comprised stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercises performed for 40min, five times a week for 4weeks. Intensive CDT was administered by a physical therapist during weeks 0-2 and by the patients themselves during weeks 2-4. Limb volume, bioimpedance, muscular strength, EORTC QLQ-C30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30) score, 30-s chair stand test, muscular strength, and GCLQ-K (Korean version of the Gynecological Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire) score were assessed at baseline and after 4weeks of treatment.
Results: The edema status, fatigue, pain, and GCLQ-K scores were significantly improved in both groups after the 4-week intervention (P<0.05). Physical function and fatigue in EORTC QLQ-C30 and the 30-s chair stand test and quadriceps muscle strength were significantly improved in the CRCDT group compared with the CDT group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: CR improves physical function, fatigue, and muscular strength without increasing edema status in patients with unilateral lower-limb lymphedema after gynecologic cancer surgery.
Keywords: Gynecologic cancer surgery; Quality of life; Rehabilitation.
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