Lymphatic Drainage Versus Ultrasound for Postpartum Breast Engorgement: A Pilot Study

Comparative Effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Therapeutic Ultrasound on Breast Engorgement in Postpartum Women: A Feasibility Pilot Study

In this article, women were randomly assigned to the manual lymphatic drainage group, therapeutic ultrasound group, and control group, and the breast pain, swelling hardness, and milk excretion before and after each treatment were measured.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Lactation Disorders; Breast Engorgement
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group; Other: Ultrasound therapy group

Detailed Description

Breast engorgement as the swelling and distention of breast, which is one of the most common problems of postpartum of 3-8 days. At the same time, the congested blood vessels and tissue fluid will enter the surrounding tissues, resulting in the retention of tissue fluid and blood, resulting in interstitial fluid. In cases such as interstitial edema, the flow of milk is restricted.

There are many conservative treatments for relieving breast swelling. At present, there have been published studies on the application of ultrasound therapy and manual lymphatic drainage to breast problems during lactation. Previous studies have shown that manual lymphatic drainage and ultrasound therapy can significantly improve the pain, temperature, and firmness of breast engorgement. Manual lymphatic drainage and ultrasound therapy have been widely used in physical therapy, but there is little empirical evidence for manual lymphatic drainage on breast swelling. It is hoped that this empirical medical research method can be used to reduce the effect of breast pain caused by breast problems and improve breast milk. The purpose of this study was to examine whether manual lymphatic drainage and ultrasound therapy can improve breast pain, breast swelling, and increase the flow and volume of milk removed.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 31
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei City, Taiwan
    • TMU-Joint Institutional Review Board

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 20 years old
• Physiological breast swelling, breast heaviness, lumps, milk plugging, breast pain after childbirth
• Able to read and understand Chinese
• At least four points on the Breast Swelling Scale

Exclusion Criteria:

• Autoimmune system problems
• physical and mental health problems
• Breast abscesses, mastitis
• Breast implants
• Cardiac pacemakers
• Malignant tumors

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group; Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group: Performed by physiotherapists trained by Dr. Vodder School and licensed in Lymphatic Consolidation Detoxification Therapy (CDT). The patient's treatment posture is to lie down. First, start with the neck lymphatic drainage technique. After performing bilateral axillary lymph node activation and lymphatic valve contraction, the bilateral breast lymph fluid is drained to the bilateral lymph nodes. The time is about 20 minutes. Assist in removing milk from both breasts for 15 minutes each. Once a day for three consecutive days of treatment.	Other: Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group; Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group:Performed by physiotherapists trained by Dr. Vodder School and licensed in Lymphatic Consolidation Detoxification Therapy (CDT). The patient's treatment posture is to lie down. First, start with the neck lymphatic drainage technique. After performing bilateral axillary lymph node activation and lymphatic valve contraction, the bilateral breast lymph fluid is drained to the bilateral lymph nodes. The time is about 20 minutes. Assist in removing milk from both breasts for 15 minutes each. Once a day for three consecutive days of treatment.
Experimental: Ultrasound therapy group; Ultrasound therapy group: performed by a physical therapist. This study uses an ultrasonic therapy device (model: UTO US-750 Therapeutic Ultrasound), frequency: 1MHz, intensity set to 1.0 Watt/cm2, pulsed mode, duty cycle 100%, treatment time 2 5 minutes on each side, and then assist in removing the breast milk from both breasts for 15 minutes on each side. Once a day for three consecutive days of treatment.	Other: Ultrasound therapy group; Ultrasound therapy group: performed by a physical therapist. This study uses an ultrasonic therapy device (model: UTO US-750 Therapeutic Ultrasound), frequency: 1MHz, intensity set to 1.0 Watt/cm2, pulsed mode, duty cycle 100%, treatment time 2 5 minutes on each side, and then assist in removing the breast milk from both breasts for 15 minutes on each side. Once a day for three consecutive days of treatment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Breast Enhancement Assessment Scale	There are six grades of breast swelling: grade 1: tender, the breast does not change; grade 2: slight change; grade 3: the breast feels thick without tenderness; grade 4: the breast feels thick and begins to pressure Pain; Grade 5: Thick breasts with obvious tenderness; Grade 6: Very hard and very painful.	Change from Baseline The Breast Enhancement Assessment Scale at 3day
The Visual Analogue Scale for Pain；VASP	Using a ruler, the score is determined by measuring the distance (mm) on the 10-cm line between the "no pain" anchor and the patient's mark, providing a range of scores from 0-10. A higher score indicates greater pain intensity.	Change from Baseline The Visual Analogue Scale for Pain；VASP at 3day
The Total Daily Milk Volume	Total Daily Milk Volume was be recorded.	Change from Baseline The Total Daily Milk Volume at 3day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Increase breastfeeding rates	Continued breastfeeding was measured by the yes or no Questionnaire	3day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
• Investigators: Study Chair: ya-chun chang, Researchers

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 6, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 8, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): November 13, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 20, 2024
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: postpartum; manual lymphatic drainage; physical therapy modalities; breast feeding; ultrasound therapy; breast engorgment; breast care
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Skin Diseases; Breast Diseases; Puerperal Disorders; Hyperemia; Lactation Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: N202203042

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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