Johansson, K., Tibe, K., Weibull, A., & Newton, R.C. (2005). Low intensity resistance exercise for breast cancer patients with arm lymphedema with or without compression sleeve. Lymphology, 38(4), 167–180.
The study took place at Lund University in Sweden.
Results showed no difference in arm volume between the the group without the compression sleeve (n = 15) and the group with the compression sleeve (n = 16). Controlled acute arm exercise program with low-intensity weights produced a slight arm volume increase that was transient and disappeared after 24 hours in the affected arm in patients with breast cancer experiencing lymphedema.
Wearing compression sleeve during exercise did not influence arm volumes but should be worn as prescribed the rest of the time.
More research is needed to validate results.