Strauss-Blasche, G., Gnad, E., Ekmekcioglu, C., Hladschik, B., & Marktl, W. (2005). Combined inpatient rehabilitation and spa therapy for breast cancer patients: effects on quality of life and CA 15-3. Cancer Nursing, 28, 390–398.
The three-week inpatient rehabilitation included exercise, manual lymph drainage, and massage; some patients also received group counseling, progressive muscle relaxation, and balneotherapy (carbon dioxide bath and mud therapy). The aim of carbon dioxide baths is to increase peripheral blood flow while mud packs increase tissue temperature. Measures were obtained two weeks preadmission, at the end of treatment, and six months later.
Rehabilitation center and spa in Austria
The study used a pre-/posttest design.
Patients received a median of 61 treatments. Of the patients, 22% dropped out at follow-up. There was a significant decrease in fatigue (p < 0.001) from pre- to posttest (effect size [ES] = .38) and pretest to six-month follow-up (ES = .38).
Fatigue improvement was greater for those with greater lymphedema.