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Hand Exercises for Breast Cancer Lymphedema

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Elisabeth Wise, DPT

Research Sponsored by Texas Woman's University

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Must not have

Women who cannot speak or read English or Spanish sufficiently to complete the Lymphedema Life Impact Scale or understand the consent forms, educational information, and printed exercises will be excluded.

Previous treatment for upper limb lymphedema or a prior diagnosis of congestive heart failure or end-stage renal disease due to the impact on edematous limbs and risk of cardiac overload.

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up day 1, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks of treatment/completion of study.

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tests if adding hand exercises to usual care can help reduce limb swelling & increase dexterity & grip strength in people with lymphedema due to breast cancer.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for biological women over 18 who have had breast cancer treatment within the last 10 years and now suffer from lymphedema in one arm. They can still join if they're on chemo or immunotherapy, but might need to give more info. Women with past upper limb paralysis, open wounds near the affected area, heart failure, kidney disease, or language barriers are not eligible.

What is being tested?

Researchers are testing if adding hand mobility and grip strengthening exercises to usual care helps reduce arm swelling and improves life quality, hand function, and strength in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema compared to just usual care.

What are the potential side effects?

While specific side effects aren't listed for these exercises, participants may experience discomfort or fatigue in their hands during or after exercise. It's important that any new pain or worsening of symptoms be reported to the study team.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

Select...

I can speak and read English or Spanish well enough to understand medical forms and instructions.

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I have had treatments for arm swelling or have been diagnosed with heart failure or severe kidney disease.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ day 1, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks of treatment/completion of study.

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~day 1, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks of treatment/completion of study.

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and day 1, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks of treatment/completion of study. for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Upper Limb volume

Secondary study objectives

Grip Strength

Lymphedema Life Impact Scale

Nine-Hole Peg Test

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: ExperimentalExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

Participants will receive hand mobility and grip strengthening exercises in addition to the usual care for breast cancer-related lymphedema of the upper limb.

Group II: ComparisonActive Control1 Intervention

Participants will receive only the usual care for breast cancer-related lymphedema.

0 / 2Eligibility criteria met