Exercise and Compression for Lymphedema

NCT ID: NCT05022823

Last Updated: 2025-06-27

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

40 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-06-29

Study Completion Date

2024-02-08

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefit of combining resistance exercise with use of a compression sleeve on arm lymphedema. In the study, participants will be taught a resistance exercise that follows the decongestive exercise sequence. This program is called "decongestive progressive resistance exercise" (DPRE). To evaluate the benefit from use of a compression garment on the arm. Some participants will wear their usual compression sleeve during exercise and others will use an adjustable compression wrap. The investigators hope to see if this type of combined program is helpful for women with lymphedema. The investigators also want to see if there are benefits from the addition of use of an adjustable compression wrap during exercise over use of a regularly prescribed compression sleeve.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Standard of Care

Group A (Control). Home decongestive exercise regimen + daytime use of a compression sleeve (12 hours per day)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Compression sleeve, daytime wear

Intervention Type DEVICE

Compression sleeve worn for at least 12 hours per day, seven days a week.

Home exercise program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants are provided with a home exercise program that follows the decongestive exercise sequence and instructed to perform the exercise sequence once daily for a 10-15 minute period.

DPRE + compression sleeve during exercise

Group B. Decongestive Progressive Resistance Exercise + compression sleeve use during exercise + daytime use of a compression sleeve (12 hours per day)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Compression sleeve, worn during exercise

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants wear their daytime compression sleeve during the DPRE program.

Compression sleeve, daytime wear

Intervention Type DEVICE

Compression sleeve worn for at least 12 hours per day, seven days a week.

Decongestive Progressive Resistance Exercise program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Supervised DPRE exercise program, twice a week for 12 weeks. Exercises will be individualized and offered in a group-based format.

After the 12-week intervention, participants will continue the same program (independently) twice weekly for an additional 12 weeks at home or in a community-based fitness center or attend supervised group exercise sessions virtually.

DPRE + AC garment during exercise

Group C. Decongestive Progressive Resistance Exercise + Adjustable Compression (AC) garment use during exercise + daytime use of a compression sleeve (12 hours per day).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Adjustable Compression (AC) garment, worn during exercise

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants wear an Adjustable Compression (AC) garment during the DPRE program. Participants will be fitted for an Adjustable Compression garment and instructed in its application by a physical therapist.

Compression sleeve, daytime wear

Intervention Type DEVICE

Compression sleeve worn for at least 12 hours per day, seven days a week.

Decongestive Progressive Resistance Exercise program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Supervised DPRE exercise program, twice a week for 12 weeks. Exercises will be individualized and offered in a group-based format.

After the 12-week intervention, participants will continue the same program (independently) twice weekly for an additional 12 weeks at home or in a community-based fitness center or attend supervised group exercise sessions virtually.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Compression sleeve, worn during exercise

Participants wear their daytime compression sleeve during the DPRE program.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Adjustable Compression (AC) garment, worn during exercise

Participants wear an Adjustable Compression (AC) garment during the DPRE program. Participants will be fitted for an Adjustable Compression garment and instructed in its application by a physical therapist.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Compression sleeve, daytime wear

Compression sleeve worn for at least 12 hours per day, seven days a week.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Decongestive Progressive Resistance Exercise program

Supervised DPRE exercise program, twice a week for 12 weeks. Exercises will be individualized and offered in a group-based format.

After the 12-week intervention, participants will continue the same program (independently) twice weekly for an additional 12 weeks at home or in a community-based fitness center or attend supervised group exercise sessions virtually.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Home exercise program

Participants are provided with a home exercise program that follows the decongestive exercise sequence and instructed to perform the exercise sequence once daily for a 10-15 minute period.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

DPRE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Is a female with a history of breast cancer;
2. Has undergone surgery, including sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection;
3. Has visible and palpable unilateral mild to moderate BCRL of at least 200 ml inter-limb volume difference (full limb) or regional lymphedema: defined as a minimal volume difference of 100 ml or 5% in a segment of the arm (e.g. hand and forearm region, elbow and upper arm) after correcting for arm dominance;
4. Has chronic lymphedema, defined as lymphedema that has been present for at least 3 months;
5. Is in the lymphedema maintenance phase of conservative treatment;
6. Uses a well fitted compression sleeve (not older than 1 month) and is agreeable to wear the sleeve for a minimum of 12 hours per day (providing a minimum of 30 mm Hg of pressure);
7. Is agreeable to discontinuing other lymphedema treatments that are beyond standard care, including manual lymph drainage and intermittent pneumatic compression during the 12-week RCT period of the study.
8. Is able to read and understand English.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Are undergoing or are scheduled to receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy
2. Presents with limb infection/ cellulitis, deep vein thrombosis, or have active metastatic disease;
3. Has any neurological or cognitive deficit, is pregnant, uses a pacemaker, or has other uncontrolled health condition that may interfere with assessment and/or the progressive resistance exercise training intervention;
4. Has any contraindications related to wearing compression on the limb, including arterial insufficiency or congestive heart failure;
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

AHS Cancer Control Alberta

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Cross Cancer Institute

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Canada

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Al Onazi MM, Campbell KL, Thompson RB, Ghosh S, Mackey JR, Muir A, McNeely ML. Decongestive progressive resistance exercise with an adjustable compression wrap for breast cancer-related lymphoedema (DREAM): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2022 Apr 4;12(4):e053165. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053165.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35379618 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

IIT-0016

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.