de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy, M., Guimaraes, T.D., Oliani, A.H., & de Godoy, J.M. (2011). Association of Godoy & Godoy contention with mechanism with apparatus-assisted exercises in patients with arm lymphedema after breast cancer. International Journal of General Medicine, 4, 373–376.
To determine the effectiveness of the use of apparatus-assisted exercises with Godoy and Godoy contention (a cotton and polyester sleeve) for volume reduction of the upper limbs in patients with arm lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment
Each of the participants was given four apparatus-assisted exercises to complete using a pedal, pulley, horizontal bar, and elevation bar along with a Godoy and Godoy contention device (sleeve made of a cotton and polyester material). Each exercise was used for 15 minutes under low intensity (less than 10 movements per minute) in a seated position.
The study took place at an inpatient setting in Brazil.
Patients were undergoing transition and active treatment for lymphedema.
The study used a quasi-experimental design.
There was a significant loss in arm volume (mean decrease of 57.32 g) after using the four different apparatus-assisted exercises (p = 0.0032).
The study suggests that there is a positive correlation between the use of apparatus-assisted arm exercises and the reduction of edema in patients with arm lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment. However, the data should only be used for evaluation purposes because the study has many limitations.
The results from this study can be used as a tool to nurses when identifying treatment strategies for patients with arm lymphedema. However, nurses should be aware that not enough research has been done to validate the point that the use of Gody and Godoy during arm assisted-apparatus exercises has a strong relation to a reduction on peripheral edema. Further research needs to be conducted to validate the findings of the study using a more rigorous study design.