Mechanosensitivity in the upper extremity following breast cancer treatment

作者：Smoot Betty^*; Boyd Benjamin S; Byl Nancy; Dodd Marylin

来源：Journal of Hand Therapy, 2014, 27(1): 4-11.

DOI：10.1016/j.jht.2013.08.021

• Breast cancer
• Lymphedema
• Neurodynamics

Study design: Descriptive, cross-sectional.
Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) treatments place the nervous system at risk, which may contribute to upper extremity (UE) mechanosensitivity.
Purpose of the study: To evaluate elbow extension range of motion (EE-ROM) during upper limb neurodynamic testing (ULNT) post-BC treatment.
Methods: ULNT EE-ROM was measured for 145 women post-BC treatment. Women were sub-grouped by presence/absence of pain and lymphedema.
Results: Mean EE-ROM during ULNT1 was -22.3 degrees (SD 11.9 degrees) on the unaffected limb and -25.99 degrees (SD 13.1 degrees) on the affected limb. The women with pain and lymphedema had the greatest limitation in EE-ROM during ULNT1 testing, particularly of their affected limb (-33.8 degrees, SD 12.9). Symptoms were reported more frequently in the affected chest, shoulder, arm, elbow, and hand. The intensity of symptoms was greater at the affected chest (p = 0.046), shoulder (p = 0.033) and arm (p = 0.039).
Conclusions: Women with lymphedema and pain after BC treatment may present with altered neural mechanosensitivity.
Level of evidence: 3a.

• 出版日期2014-3