The Effect of Early Rehabilitation After Breast Cancer Surgery on Physical and Psychosocial Functions

At least 42 patients between the ages of 30-65, who were followed up in Pamukkale University General Surgery Breast Polyclinic and planned for breast surgery, will be included in the study. Those who met the criteria for inclusion in the study and those who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study, who were preoperatively evaluated, will be randomly divided into two groups using the closed envelope method by matching age, gender, type of surgery and breast cancer stage. The first of these groups is the study (n=21) and the second is the control group (n=21).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Breast Cancer Surgery
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: physitherapy follow-up; Other: control

Detailed Description

Study group: Patients in the study group will be informed about the postoperative physiotherapy program and patient education will be provided by the physiotherapist before the operation. After obtaining the consent of the surgeon performing the operation, preoperative and post-operative complications (infection, lymphedema, fatigue…) and the things to be considered (use of upper extremities, skin care, importance of weight control…) and patient education will be given by the physiotherapist. In addition, respiratory control, diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation exercises, gradual passive-active assistive-active range of motion exercises, stretching exercises will also be demonstrated preoperatively.

From the first postoperative day, with the approval of the surgeon performing the operation, the postoperative exercise program will be started once a day under the supervision of a physiotherapist during the stay of the participants in the hospital.

At the same time, participants will be directed to moderate intensity aerobic exercise (walking, jogging…) for 150 min/week. Information will be given on the importance of physical activity and increasing the level of physical activity. In addition, a brochure containing explanatory information about the postoperative physiotherapy program after breast surgery will be given to the participants.

Participants will continue the exercises as a home program after discharge. During this follow-up period, the participants will meet again with the physiotherapist every two weeks for the control, compliance and continuity of the exercises. In these interviews, while compliance with the exercise program is checked, exercise tolerance will also be determined and necessary interventions and modifications will be made. In case of any complication (limitation in physical functions, lymphedema…) during the home program, he will be informed about meeting with the relevant physician and physiotherapist as soon as possible.

Control group: The patients in the control group will be informed about the postoperative physiotherapy program and patient education will be provided by the physiotherapist before the operation. Within the knowledge and approval of the surgeon performing the operation, preoperatively, respiratory control, diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation exercises, passive-active assistive-active range of motion exercises are shown by the physiotherapist, and patient education is provided with information about possible postoperative complications and what needs to be considered. will be given.

Written consent of all participants was obtained; demographic information will be recorded, and their physical and psychosocial conditions will be evaluated. Circumference measurements for lymphedema The extremity volume will be calculated using the Frustum formula. Modified Constant Murley Score for shoulder and upper extremity loss of function and evaluation of activities of daily living, pectoralis major and pectoralis minor shortness tests, Tanita for body composition determination, L-Dex score for bioimpedance analysis, Functional Evaluation of Breast Cancer Treatment for functional status ( Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy -Breast Cancer - FACT-B scale, Cancer Fatigue Scale for fatigue, 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) for cardiovascular endurance and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) for psychosocial status will be used. All measurements will be repeated preoperatively (at least 3 days before the operation), on the 1st postoperative day and 3 months later.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 63
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Denizli, Turkey, 20350
    • Pamukkale University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 30 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having a breast surgery indication with a diagnosis of breast cancer
• Having stage 1-2-3 breast cancer
• Education level to be at least literate
• To be in stable clinical condition
• Not having any other disease that will affect their physical and psychosocial functions
• Being good at cooperation
• Referred by the relevant surgeon and no contraindications for early postoperative physiotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of previous breast cancer surgery
• Concurrent bilateral breast cancer and/or surgery
• History of shoulder surgery
• Preoperative shoulder dysfunction
• Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis
• BMI>40 kg/m²
• Use of an assistive walking device
• Stage 4 metastatic cancer
• All conditions that require close monitoring during exercise (such as uncontrolled or unstable cardiovascular disease or diabetes)
• cognitive impairment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: intervention group (Group 1); From the first postoperative day, with the approval of the surgeon performing the operation, the postoperative exercise program will be started once a day under the supervision of a physiotherapist during the stay of the participants in the hospital. At the same time, participants will be directed to moderate intensity aerobic exercise (walking, jogging…) for 150 min/week. Information will be given on the importance of physical activity and increasing the level of physical activity. In addition, a brochure containing explanatory information about the postoperative physiotherapy program after breast surgery will be given to the participants.	Procedure: physitherapy follow-up; preoperative patient informaiton, information leaflet and Physiotherapy meeting will be held every 2 weeks for 3 months
Active Comparator: control group (Group 2); The patients in the control group will be informed about the postoperative physiotherapy program and patient education will be provided by the physiotherapist before the operation. Within the knowledge and approval of the surgeon performing the operation, preoperatively, respiratory control, diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation exercises, passive-active assistive-active range of motion exercises are shown by the physiotherapist, and patient education is provided with information about possible postoperative complications and what needs to be considered. will be given.	Other: control; no intervention; preoperative patient informaiton and information leaflet
No Intervention: routine follow-up (Group 3); only preoperative patient information is given.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
determination of limb volume changes	The circumference measurements for lymphedema will be calculated using the Frustum formula. calculations will compare with operated and non-operated limb, and also subsequent measurements. A volume increase of >200 ml is interpreted as the onset of lymphedema.	postoperative to 3 months later
determination of shoulder and upper extremity functions	Modified Constant Murley Score for assessment of shoulder and upper extremity functions. high score indicates good function.	postoperative to 3 months later
muscle shortness test	Pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscle shortness tests.measurements will compare with operated and non-operated limb, and also subsequent.	postoperative to 3 months later
Bioimpedance analysis for body composition determination; weight	Tanita bioimpedance analysis device will be used to determine body composition. Measurements will be compared with the subsequent. bioimpedance analysis determines that; body weight (kg), muscle mass (kg), estimated bone ratio (kg).	postoperative to 3 months later
Bioimpedance analysis for body composition determination;body mass index	Tanita bioimpedance analysis device will be used to determine body composition. Measurements will be compared with the subsequent. bioimpedance analysis determines that; body mass index (kg/m2).	postoperative to 3 months later
Bioimpedance analysis for body composition determination; body fat and water percentage	Tanita bioimpedance analysis device will be used to determine body composition. Measurements will be compared with the subsequent. bioimpedance analysis determines that; body fat percentage, body water percentage.	postoperative to 3 months later
Bioimpedance analysis for body composition determination; visceral fat level	Tanita bioimpedance analysis device will be used to determine body composition. Measurements will be compared with the subsequent. bioimpedance analysis determines that; visceral fat level.	postoperative to 3 months later
Bioimpedance analysis for body composition determination; energy consumption	Tanita bioimpedance analysis device will be used to determine body composition. Measurements will be compared with the subsequent. bioimpedance analysis determines that; total daily energy consumption (kcal/day).	postoperative to 3 months later
Bioimpedance analysis for body composition determination; metabolic age	Tanita bioimpedance analysis device will be used to determine body composition. Measurements will be compared with the subsequent. bioimpedance analysis determines that; metabolic age (years).	postoperative to 3 months later
determination of subdermal fluid ratio	Moisturemeter compactD for measurement of subdermal fluid ratio. Measurements will be compared with the subsequent.	postoperative to 3 months later
assesment of fatigue	Cancer Fatigue Scale for assesment of fatigue. A low score indicates a low fatigue rate.	postoperative to 3 months later
determination of cardiovascular endurance	6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) will be used for cardiovascular endurance.Changes of >35 m are significant changes.	postoperative to 3 months later

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
determination of emotional status	It is expected that the psychosocial functions that have decreased due to breast cancer will be restored in a short time with physiotherapy follow-up and improvement of physical functions. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) will be used for psychosocial status. A low score indicates low anxiety and depression.	baseline to 3 months later
Determination of quality of life	Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy -Breast Cancer (FACT-B) scale for assessment of functional status and activities of daily living. high score indicates good function.	postoperative to 3 months later

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pamukkale University
• Investigators: Study Chair: Sevda YILMAZ, dr, Pamukkale University; Study Chair: Hande ŞENOL, dr, Pamukkale University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 19, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): January 19, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 24, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 27, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): July 28, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 12, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 8, 2023
• Last Verified: June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: breast cancer; breast cancer surgery; physical functions; psychosocial functions; breast cancer physiotherapy; breast cancer survival
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019SABE028

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No