Title:

Mind the gap: treating post-surgical scar tissue in post-mastectomy patients –a randomized clinical trial

Creator:

Górecki, Maciej ; Naczk, Mariusz ; Doś, Janusz ; Anioła, Beata ; Majchrzycki, Marian ; Marszałek, Sławomir

Subject and Keywords:

mastectomy ; breast neoplasms ; scar tissue ; myofascial treatment ; range of motion ; muscle elasticity

Abstrakt:

Introduction. Post-mastectomy physiotherapy typically includes massage, exercise, and stretching, but often fails to treat postsurgical scar tissue, a significant contributor to long-term disability. This study aimed to compare conventional therapy with myofascial manual therapy for treating post-surgical scar tissue in post-mastectomy patients and to determine the effectivenessof these treatments.Methods. The study was an experimental controlled study with pre- and post-testing of two parallel groups. Forty-eight womenexperiencing shoulder and/or upper torso impairment following mastectomy were randomly allocated to either a control group(n = 21) or a myofascial therapy group (n = 27). Conventional physiotherapy involving exercise and massage or myofascialtherapy was used. Pre- and post-therapy measurements included muscle length, pain intensity, range of motion (ROM), andscar mobility.Results. Myofascial therapy was superior to conventional physiotherapy in reducing the percentage of patients with belownormal muscle lengths at several sites. Significant decreases from baseline were observed in the treatment group for the parsclavicularis, descending trapezius, pars sternocostalis, latissimus dorsi, and levator scapulae muscles. Myofascial therapy alsoimproved mobility in the scar area, with increases of 3 mm relative to the xiphoid process and 4 mm relative to the coracoid.Conclusions. Our study indicates that myofascial interventions improve upper limb ROM and muscle elasticity in the upper limbgirdle of post-mastectomy patients. These findings provide empirical evidence supporting the benefits of myofascial interventionover conventional physiotherapy in the treatment of post-surgical scar tissue in this patient group.

Publisher:

Wydawnictwo Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego im. Polskich Olimpijczyków we Wrocławiu

Date:

2024

Resource Type:

artykuł

Language:

ang

Relation:

Physiotherapy Quarterly,2024,vol.32,nr3

Rights:

Wszystkie prawa zastrzeżone (Copyright)

Access Rights:

Dla wszystkich zgodnie z licencją

License:

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Rights Owner:

Wydawnictwo Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego im. Polskich Olimpijczyków we Wrocławiu