Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of myofascial techniques, in addition to a
standard physical therapy programme for upper limb pain shortly after breast
cancer surgery. DESIGN: Double-blinded (patient and assessor) randomized
controlled trial with two groups. SETTING: University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
Patients: A total of 147 patients with unilateral axillary clearance for breast
cancer. INTERVENTION: All participants received a standard physical therapy
programme starting immediately after surgery for four months. The intervention
group received additionally eight sessions of myofascial therapy from two up to
four months after surgery.
The control group received eight sessions of a placebo
intervention, including static hand placements at the upper body region. MAIN
MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was prevalence rate of upper limb pain.
Additionally, pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-100)), pressure
hypersensitivity (pressure pain thresholds (PPTs; kg/cm(2))) and pain quality
(McGill Pain Questionnaire) were evaluated. All measurements were performed at 2
(=baseline), 4, 9 and 12 months post-surgery. RESULTS:
At 4, 9 and 12 months
post-surgery, prevalence rates of pain, pain intensity and pain quality were
comparable between the intervention and control group. PPT of the upper trapezius
muscle was significantly higher in the intervention group at four months with a
difference of -1.2 (-1.9 to -0.4) kg/cm(2), P = 0.012). PPT of the supraspinatus
muscle was significantly higher in the intervention group at four months (-0.7
(-1.4 to -0.1) kg/cm(2), P = 0.021) and at nine months
(-0.5 (-1.1 to 0.0), P =
0.040). CONCLUSION: Myofascial therapy has no added beneficial effect as standard
physical therapy modality in the postoperative stage.

Langue : ANGLAIS