Effectiveness of Water Physical Therapy on Pain, Pressure Pain Sensitivity, and Myofascial Trigger Points in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

An 8-week water therapy program was effective for improving neck and shoulder/axillary pain, and reducing the presence of TrPs in breast cancer survivors as compared with usual care; however, no significant changes in widespread pressure pain hyperalgesia were found.

Participation in water-exercising long-term after breast cancer surgery: Experiences of significant factors for continuing exercising as a part of cancer rehabilitation

“…In our study, the women continued weekly year after year, on their own initiative. This is positive since physical activity, for example, water-exercising, has well-known benefits in terms of general health benefits (Bränström et al, 2015;Chen et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2012;Wen et al, 2011) and arm specific benefits (Cantarero-Villanueva et al, 2012, 2013Fernández-Lao et al, 2013;Johansson et al, 2013;Linduist et al, 2015). Group-based water-exercising consume small economic resources, as compared to multimodal exercise programs for breast cancer survivors (Haines et al, 2010).…”

“…In our recent study, we found that more female cancer survivors decreased their secondary lymphoedema volume after water exercise compared to land exercise (Linduist et al, 2015;n = 88). Water exercise reduced neck and arm pain n = 66), pain sensitivity (Cantarero-Villanueva et al, 2012;n = 44) and range of movement in the shoulder (Johansson et al, 2013;n = 25), as compared to no water exercise. Water reduced a variety of breast cancer related symptoms more than land-based exercise n = 98).…”

“…One common kind of physical activity in breast cancer survivors is water exercise (Cantarero-Villanueva et al, 2012, 2013Fernández-Lao et al, 2013;Johansson, Hayes, Speck, & Schmitz, 2013;Linduist et al, 2015). In our recent study, we found that more female cancer survivors decreased their secondary lymphoedema volume after water exercise compared to land exercise (Linduist et al, 2015;n = 88).…”

“…Water reduced a variety of breast cancer related symptoms more than land-based exercise n = 98). All these studies continued for just approximately two months (Cantarero-Villanueva et al, 2012, 2013Fernández-Lao et al, 2013;Johansson et al, 2013;Linduist et al, 2015) and the common decrease in physical activity (Bourke et al, 2014;Bränström et al, 2015) is relevant for oncology nursing professionals to consider when supporting the lifelong managing of arm limitations (Furmaniak, Menig, Markes, 2016;McNeely et al, 2010;Ridner et al, 2012) and general health issues (Chen et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2012;Wen et al, 2011). A deeper understanding of factors experienced to be of significance for breast cancer survivors to continue with water-exercising as a part of long-term breast cancer rehabilitation (McNeely et al, 2010) is welcomed.…”

“…Only a third of breast cancer survivors had a relevant level of physical activity before surgery and decreased their physical activity level even more post-surgery (Bränström et al, 2015). Thus it is important to find convenient kinds of physical activities; activities that the survivors could continue with in a long-term rehabilitation perspective (Ridner et al, 2012).One common kind of physical activity in breast cancer survivors is water exercise (Cantarero-Villanueva et al, 2012, 2013Fernández-Lao et al, 2013;Johansson, Hayes, Speck, & Schmitz, 2013;Linduist et al, 2015). In our recent study, we found that more female cancer is welcomed.…”