Long-Term Multidisciplinary Physiotherapy for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT ID: NCT06913244

Last Updated: 2025-04-06

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

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

146 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-04-23

Study Completion Date

2027-01-01

Brief Summary

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This multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluates the long-term (12-month) effectiveness of a standardized multidisciplinary physiotherapy program versus standard care on persistent pain, upper limb (UL) dysfunction, and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in breast cancer survivors. The study also examines improvements in quality of life and psychological well-being. The standardized intervention combines specific exercise therapy, manual therapy, education, and mind-body interventions and is designed to produce sustained benefits beyond the acute rehabilitation phase.

Detailed Description

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Breast cancer survivors frequently experience persistent pain, upper limb dysfunction, and CRF well into the survivorship phase, even after completion of acute treatment. Despite various studies evaluating individual interventions, long-term outcomes remain inconclusive due to heterogeneity and short follow-up durations (Devoogdt \& De Groef, 2024; McNeely et al., 2010). This study proposes a standardized, multidisciplinary physiotherapy program that integrates:

Specific Exercise Therapy: Structured stretching and strengthening sessions targeting UL mobility and overall fitness (30-60 minutes per session, three times weekly for 8 weeks under supervision, followed by individual home-based maintenance).

Manual Therapy: Targeted soft-tissue mobilization and myofascial release (20-30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 4 weeks).

Education: In-person and online sessions on pain neuroscience and self-management delivered in three sessions.

Mind-Body Interventions: Yoga or tai chi sessions (40 minutes per session, once weekly for 6 weeks).

In this multi-center, parallel-group design, 146 women (aged 18-65) who have undergone breast cancer surgery (with or without axillary lymph node dissection) and completed acute treatment, yet experience persistent sequelae, will be enrolled. Participants will be randomized into two groups: one receiving the multidisciplinary physiotherapy program and the other receiving standard care (routine follow-up with basic physiotherapy advice).

Primary outcomes are measured by changes in pain intensity (VAS), upper limb function (DASH), and CRF (FACIT-Fatigue) at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Secondary outcomes include quality of life (SF-36) and psychological well-being (HADS).

Data will be analyzed using intention-to-treat principles with mixed-effects regression models to adjust for baseline covariates. This study will provide high-quality long-term data to potentially standardize physiotherapy care protocols for breast cancer survivors.

Conditions

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Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Female

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Participants will be randomized (stratified if necessary) to one of two groups-an intervention group receiving the multidisciplinary physiotherapy program and a control group receiving standard care. Both groups will be followed for 12 months to assess clinical and patient-reported outcomes.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
Due to the nature of the interventions, participants, care providers, and investigators will be aware of the treatment allocation; however, outcome assessors will remain blinded to reduce assessment bias.

Study Groups

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Multidisciplinary Physiotherapy Program

Participants in this arm will undergo a standardized multidisciplinary physiotherapy program consisting of:

Specific Exercise Therapy: 30-60-minute sessions conducted thrice weekly for 8 weeks (supervised) with subsequent home-based maintenance.

Manual Therapy: 20-30-minute soft-tissue mobilization sessions twice weekly for 4 weeks.

Education: Three sessions (in-person and online) focusing on pain neuroscience and self-management strategies.

Mind-Body Interventions: 40-minute yoga or tai chi sessions once weekly for 6 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Multidisciplinary Physiotherapy Program (MD Physio)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A comprehensive program that integrates:

Specific Exercise Therapy: Supervised stretching and strengthening sessions (30-60 minutes/session, 3× per week for 8 weeks) followed by a prescribed home-based maintenance regimen.

Manual Therapy: Targeted soft-tissue mobilization and myofascial release (20-30 minutes/session, twice per week for 4 weeks).

Education Sessions: Three sessions (both in-person and online) covering pain neuroscience and self-management techniques.

Mind-Body Interventions: Weekly 40-minute sessions of yoga or tai chi for 6 weeks.

Control - Standard Care

Participants in the control arm will receive "standard care" as currently practiced. This includes routine follow-up and basic physiotherapy advice typically provided to breast cancer survivors without the structured, multidisciplinary program.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Physiotherapy Care

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Routine care involves standard follow-up with basic physiotherapy advice as currently provided to breast cancer survivors. This serves as the active comparator in the trial.

Interventions

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Multidisciplinary Physiotherapy Program (MD Physio)

A comprehensive program that integrates:

Specific Exercise Therapy: Supervised stretching and strengthening sessions (30-60 minutes/session, 3× per week for 8 weeks) followed by a prescribed home-based maintenance regimen.

Manual Therapy: Targeted soft-tissue mobilization and myofascial release (20-30 minutes/session, twice per week for 4 weeks).

Education Sessions: Three sessions (both in-person and online) covering pain neuroscience and self-management techniques.

Mind-Body Interventions: Weekly 40-minute sessions of yoga or tai chi for 6 weeks.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standard Physiotherapy Care

Routine care involves standard follow-up with basic physiotherapy advice as currently provided to breast cancer survivors. This serves as the active comparator in the trial.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Women aged between 18 and 65 years. History of breast cancer surgery (with or without axillary lymph node dissection).

Completed acute cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation) at least 6 months prior to enrollment.

Currently in the survivorship phase, with no active evidence of disease.

Experiencing persistent sequelae related to treatment, such as:

Moderate to severe pain (e.g., VAS score ≥ 30 on a 0-100 scale), and/or Upper limb dysfunction, and/or Cancer-related fatigue (as measured by FACIT-Fatigue). Able to understand and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

Diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Currently receiving active cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation for active disease, or immunotherapy).

Participation in another interventional trial targeting pain or rehabilitation within the past 3 months.

Presence of severe comorbidities (e.g., uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, severe orthopedic or neurological conditions) that would preclude safe participation in physiotherapy.

Any physical or psychological condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with participation or adherence to the study protocol (e.g., severe cognitive impairment).

Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Al Hayah University In Cairo

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Faculty of Physical Therapy, Al Hayah University

Cairo, , Egypt

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Egypt

Central Contacts

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Mohamed ElMeligie, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

01159880001 ext. +20

Facility Contacts

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Mohamed ElMeligie, Ph.D

Role: primary

01159880001 ext. +20

Other Identifiers

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BCPhysio2025-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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