A randomized controlled crossover study of manual lymphatic drainage therapy in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema

Williams, A. F. ; Vadgama, A.; Franks, P. J.; Mortimer, P. S.

Abstract

This paper describes a randomized controlled crossover study examining the effects of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in 31 women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. MLD is a type of massage used in combination with skin care, support/compression therapy and exercise in the management of lymphoedema. A modified version of MLD, referred to as simple lymphatic drainage (SLD), is commonly taught as a selfhelp measure. There has been limited research into the efficacy of MLD and SLD. The study reported here explores the effects of MLD and SLD on a range of outcome measures. The findings demonstrate that MLD significantly reduces excess limb volume (difference, d = 71, 95% CI = 16–126, P = 0.013) and reduced dermal thickness in the upper arm (d = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.12–0.29, P = 0.03). Quality of life, in terms of emotional function (d = 7.2, 95% CI = 2.3 12.1, P = 0.006), dyspnoea (d = -4.6, 95% CI = -9.1 to -0.15, P = 0.04) and sleep disturbance (d = -9.2, 95% CI = -17.4 to -1.0, P = 0.03), and a number of altered sensations, such as pain and heaviness, were also significantly improved by MLD. The study provides evidence to support the use of MLD in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. The limitations of the study are outlined and future areas for study are highlighted.

Citation

Williams, A. F., Vadgama, A., Franks, P. J., & Mortimer, P. S. (2002). A randomized controlled crossover study of manual lymphatic drainage therapy in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. European Journal of Cancer Care, 11(4), 254-261. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2354.2002.00312.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Dec 19, 2002
• Publication Date: 2002-12
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2008
• Publicly Available Date: May 9, 2008
• Print ISSN: 0961-5423
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2354
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 254-261
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2354.2002.00312.x
• Keywords: Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), Breast cancer-related lymphoedema, lymphoedema therapy, Combined decongestive therapy (CDT), massage
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/1615
• Contract Date: May 9, 2008