Smoot, B., Zerzan, S., Krasnoff, J., Wong, J., Cho, M., & Dodd, M. (2014). Upper extremity bioimpedance before and after treadmill testing in women post breast cancer treatment. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 148, 445–453.
To determine the effects of vigorous cardiorespiratory exercises on upper extremity limb volume in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL)
In this study, 133 women with a history of breast cancer were enrolled. Patients were grouped according whether or not they had BCRL (63 had a previous diagnosis of lymphedema). There was one single intervention of cardiorespiratory exercise on a treadmill. Participants gradually increased the intensity of the exercise until they requested to stop or the test monitor recommended it. Participants’ upper extremities were measured using bioimpedance spectroscopy before and after treadmill exercise. They were instructed to have no food or fluid within one hour of their appointment, no exercise for 24 hours prior, and to avoid alcohol in excess for 12 hours prior. Initially, participants rested for 10 minutes on the table in a supine position. Their arms were measured every 10 cm from the wrist before treadmill exercise. Patients with lymphedema used compression garments if this was their practice.
Cross-sectional study of 133 women divided into two groups (63 with and 70 without BCRL)
This study only evaluated the immediate effects of one symptom-limited treadmill test on arm volume in women with and without BCRL. In addition, the inconsistency in the use of a compression sleeve, as well as the different durations and degrees of lymphedema, creates some confounding results. More research efforts with rigorous designs are needed to examine the effects of cardiorespiratory exercise on arm volume in women with and without BCRL.
There is confusion regarding what type of exercise patients with BCRL should do. This research leans towards encouraging cardiovascular exercise, but additional research is needed. At this time, recommending a sleeve for all patients might be warranted.