Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the effects of exercise on cancer-related lymphedema and related symptoms,
and to determine the need for those with lymphedema to wear compression during exercise.
Data Sources
CINAHL, Cochrane, EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, PubMed, ProQuest Health and Medical Complete,
ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscus databases
were searched for trials published before January 1, 2015.
Study Selection
Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials and single-group pre-post studies published
in English were included. Twenty-one (exercise) and 4 (compression and exercise) studies
met inclusion criteria.
Data Extraction
Data were extracted into tabular format using predefined data fields by 1 reviewer
and assessed for accuracy by a second reviewer. Study quality was evaluated using
the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool.
Data Synthesis
Data were pooled using a random-effects model to assess the effects of acute and long-term
exercise on lymphedema and lymphedema-associated symptoms, with subgroup analyses
for exercise mode and intervention length. There was no effect of exercise (acute
or intervention) on lymphedema or associated symptoms, with standardized mean differences
from all analyses ranging between −0.2 and 0.1 (P values ≥.22). Findings from subgroup analyses for exercise mode (aerobic, resistance,
mixed, other) and intervention duration (>12wk or ≤12wk) were consistent with these
findings—that is, no effect on lymphedema or associated symptoms. There were too few
studies evaluating the effect of compression during regular exercise to conduct a
meta-analysis.
Conclusions
Individuals with secondary lymphedema can safely participate in progressive, regular
exercise without experiencing a worsening of lymphedema or related symptoms. However,
there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the current clinical recommendation
to wear compression garments during regular exercise.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
CI (confidence interval), RCT (randomized controlled trial), SMD (standardized mean difference)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 03, 2015
Footnotes
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
