Timing of Specific Exercise Therapy After Breast Cancer Surgery: Early Versus Delayed Initiation
Timing of Specific Exercise Therapy After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Single-Center, Parallel-Group Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Early (<1 Week Postoperative) Versus Delayed (3 Weeks Postoperative) Initiation for Optimized Upper Limb Function
Al Hayah University In Cairo
140 participants
Apr 15, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare two timings for initiating specific exercise therapy after breast cancer surgery. The study tests whether early initiation (within the first postoperative week) versus delayed initiation (at 3 weeks postoperative) results in superior upper limb function at 6 months as measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale, VAS) and wound-related complications such as drainage time and hematoma incidence.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- Women aged 18-65 years.
- Scheduled to undergo breast cancer surgery with axillary node dissection.
- At risk for upper limb morbidity based on preoperative assessment.
- Able to provide informed consent and complete study questionnaires.
- Willing and able to attend scheduled physiotherapy sessions and follow-up evaluations.
Exclusion Criteria6
- Diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.
- Concurrent participation in another rehabilitation intervention or clinical trial.
- Severe comorbidities (e.g., uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, severe orthopedic conditions) that preclude safe participation.
- History of previous shoulder surgery or chronic upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders unrelated to breast cancer treatment.
- Inability to understand or complete study materials in English.
- Pregnancy or lactation.
Interventions
The exercise protocol includes mobilisation and stretching with 40-minute sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks post-initiation, transitioning to a home-based maintenance phase for 4 months. All sessions will be supervised by certified physiotherapists.
Locations(1)
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NCT06918184