Effectiveness of a Therapeutic Exercise Program With Specific Upper Limb Exercises to Reduce Lymphedema and Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pre-post Study (LYNMA)

NCT ID: NCT07170631

Last Updated: 2025-09-18

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2026-10-31

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a therapeutic exercise program designed specifically for women with breast cancer. The program includes general exercises along with specific movements for the upper limb to help reduce common side effects of cancer treatment such as lymphedema (swelling of the arm) and neuropathy (nerve pain or numbness). Participants will undergo the exercise program and be assessed before and after to determine improvements in their symptoms and overall quality of life. The goal is to provide evidence that targeted physical therapy can improve recovery and well-being in breast cancer survivors.

Detailed Description

This pre-post intervention study aims to assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive therapeutic exercise program tailored for breast cancer patients experiencing lymphedema and neuropathy secondary to cancer treatment. The program combines general physical exercises with specific upper limb movements targeting symptom reduction and functional improvement. Participants will be evaluated before and after the intervention to measure changes in arm swelling, nerve symptoms, physical function, and quality of life. The study will contribute valuable data on non-pharmacological rehabilitation strategies that could enhance recovery and reduce long-term complications in breast cancer survivors.

Conditions

Lymphedema Arm; Lymphedema Due to Radiation; Lymphedema, Breast Cancer; Peripheral Neuropathy Due to Chemotherapy; Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Patient

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Therapeutic exercise

Participants will undergo a general therapeutic exercise program including specific upper limb exercises designed to reduce lymphedema and neuropathy secondary to cancer treatment. The program consists of supervised sessions two times per week over 12 weeks, led by a specialized physiotherapist. Exercises include mobility, strength, and neurodynamic techniques.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Therapeutic exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will follow a 3-month therapeutic exercise program combining general exercises with specific upper limb exercises, including hand proprioception and neurodynamic techniques. Two group sessions per week (1 to 1.15 hours each) will be conducted, with at least 24 hours between sessions. Each session includes warm-up, three progressive work blocks with strength, mobility, and balance exercises, and a cool-down. Strength training uses body weight and equipment, with intensity guided by the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale, progressing safely from moderate to higher levels. Mobility and balance exercises target trunk, upper and lower limbs, and postural control. Neurodynamic techniques focus on median, radial, and ulnar nerves using neural sliding and intermittent tension, stopping exercises if pain exceeds 4/10. Supervised by experienced physiotherapists, the program aims to reduce lymphedema and neuropathy symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Interventions

Therapeutic exercise

Participants will follow a 3-month therapeutic exercise program combining general exercises with specific upper limb exercises, including hand proprioception and neurodynamic techniques. Two group sessions per week (1 to 1.15 hours each) will be conducted, with at least 24 hours between sessions. Each session includes warm-up, three progressive work blocks with strength, mobility, and balance exercises, and a cool-down. Strength training uses body weight and equipment, with intensity guided by the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale, progressing safely from moderate to higher levels. Mobility and balance exercises target trunk, upper and lower limbs, and postural control. Neurodynamic techniques focus on median, radial, and ulnar nerves using neural sliding and intermittent tension, stopping exercises if pain exceeds 4/10. Supervised by experienced physiotherapists, the program aims to reduce lymphedema and neuropathy symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients receiving treatment for breast carcinoma.reatments include surgical procedures (breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy), axillary lymph node dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
• Participants must provide authorization from their primary care physician and/or oncologist to perform therapeutic exercise.
• Diagnosis of lymphedema associated with stage I or II breast cancer (Stage 1 or mild: circumference difference less than 4 cm [volume difference 10-25%] compared to the healthy arm; Stage 2 or moderate: circumference difference between 4 and 6 cm [volume difference 25-50%] compared to the healthy arm).
• A score of 4 or higher on the DN4 questionnaire (neuropathic pain)

Exclusion Criteria

• Lack of medical authorization.
• Pre-existing cardiac pathology prior to cancer diagnosis.
• Exacerbation of comorbidities.
• Travel time exceeding 45 minutes to the location where the therapeutic exercise program is conducted.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Aïda Cadellans-Arróniz

PhD, Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Aïda Cadellans Arróniz (Principal Investigator), PT, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Central Contacts

Aïda Cadellans Arroniz (Principal Investigator), PT, PhD

Role: CONTACT

acadellans@uic.es

935-04-20-00

Silvia Ortega Cebrian, PT, PhD

Role: CONTACT

sortega@uic.es

935 04 20 00

Other Identifiers

FIS-2025-07

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id