Effects of Core-Focused Exercise Training and Kinesiology Taping in Women With Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Complex Decongestive Therapy: Manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging, remedial exercise, and skin care, is considered the gold standard treatment for lymphedema.

Trunk Focused exercises: Postural and spinal stabilization exercises will be performed three times per week in supine, side-lying, quadruped, sitting, and standing positions, with 8-10 repetitions for each exercise.

Kinesiology taping: Kinesiology taping will be applied bilaterally to the scalene, trapezius, and paraspinal muscles using a muscle facilitation technique twice per week.

Lower extremity exercises: Lower extremity range of motion exercises will be performed three times per week, with 8-10 repetitions for each exercise.

Placebo taping: Placebo kinesiology taping without tension will be applied to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions twice per week.

Study summary

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of trunk- focused exercise training and kinesiology taping, in addition to standard lymphedema treatment (complex decongestive therapy-CDT) on posture, pain, functionality and quality of life in women with breast cancer related lymphedema. This study is designed as a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Lymphedema negatively affects the musculoskeletal system, leading to shoulder girdle muscle imbalances, cervical and thoracolumbar pain, scapular dysfunction and spinal postural alterations. Although CDT is considered the gold standard for edema management, its effects have primarily been evaluated in terms of edema reduction and symptom control, and there is limited evidence regarding its impact on posture, musculoskeletal symptoms, and quality of life, as well as the potential effects of prolonged compression bandaging applied during the intensive phase on these systems.

Trunk-focused exercise training is expected to improve spinal stability, mobility and postural control, while kinesiology taping may help alleviate musculoskeletal symptoms by providing proprioceptive input and mechanical support. By combining these interventions, this study aims to provide a comprehensive rehabilitation approach targeting both physical and functional impairments. If additional improvements in posture, pain, function, and quality of life are observed compared to a control group receiving CDT combined with lower extremity exercise and placebo taping, these findings will support the added value of a multimodal rehabilitation approach beyond standard care.

The findings of this randomized placebo-controlled trial are expected to contribute to the literature by providing evidence for a comprehensive and holistic treatment approach in breast cancer-related lymphedema and to support the integration of trunk-focused exercise training and kinesiology taping into routine clinical practice. To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no randomized placebo-controlled study investigating the effects of trunk-focused exercise training and kinesiology taping in addition to CDT on posture, pain, functionality, and quality of life.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Mean of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar pain intensity scores — Change in mean cervical, thoracic, and lumbar pain intensity scores from baseline to the end of the third week.
  Pain intensity in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and the mean of these scores will be calculated; participants will rate their pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).

Trial sites (1)

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