Journal
of Pain and Symptom Management, Dec 2015, vol. 50, no. 6, p. 750-757
Gradalski,
Tomasz, Ochalek, Katarzyna, Kurpiewska, Joanna
The
purpose of this study was to compare the reduction in edema volume in more
advanced (≥20% limb volume difference) postmastectomy arm lymphedema achieved
by compression bandaging (CB) and physical exercises vs. the same management
augmented by an additional 30 minutes of MLD (Vodder II method). A decrease of limb volume (15.6% in the CB group and 13.8% in the CDT
group), edema volume (47.2% and 47.4%, respectively), and limb-related volume
change (14.7% and 12.5%) during the intensive phase were observed. This
improvement remained constant in both groups after six months of maintenance
therapy. The health-related quality of life similarly showed improvement in both groups, with a high level
of treatment satisfaction. These results indicate that parallel (immediate and
delayed) results may be obtained by CDT without the use of Vodder MLD and CB
may be an essential part of lymphedema management.
Available in print in Arthur Rank Hospice Library, Brookfields Hospital