Therapeutic Effect of The Combination of Short-Term Massage Manipulation With Remote Guided Self-Exercise On The Post-Mastectomy Axillary Web Syndrome In Patients With Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Single-Blind Trial.

Background: Although the axillary web syndrome (AWS) is a common post-mastectomy complication. A small number of studies have reported treatment strategies for the AWS that showed interventions for one month were an effective strategy. The current study in AWS patients investigated the clinical efficacy of short-term massage manipulation (STMM) combined with remote guided self-exercise (RGS). Method: The patients were randomized into either short-term massage manipulation combine with remote guided self-exercise group (STMM+RGS group) or treatment without massage manipulation and remote guided self-exercise group (T- STMM+RGS group). STMM+RGS group received massage manipulation for 20 min per day for 7 days as total hospitalized therapy and then received telephone-guided therapy for 9 weeks, rehabilitation gymnastics provided during hospitalization.T- STMM+RGS group received rehabilitation gymnastics only. The primary outcome was changes in upper limb range of movement (ROM), assessed at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after intervention. The secondary outcomes were scores of visual analog scales (VAS), disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) index, and activities of daily living (ADL) index assessed at 3, 6, 9 weeks of follow-up. Results: 106 patients were enrolled in the trial, 86 were randomized to treatment groups, with 79 completing the trial (41 in STMM+RGS group, 38 in T-STMM+RGS group). At 6 and 9 weeks of follow-up ROM had improved in STMM+RGS group compared with that observed in T-STMM+RGS group( p < 0.05 ). This improvement was more pronounced and significantly different at 9 weeks( p < 0.01 ).. There was also a significant difference in VAS at 6 and 9 weeks between the two groups. The DASH score improved significantly in STMM+RGS group compared with that in T-STMM+RGS group at 3, 6, and 9 weeks of follow-up( p < 0.01 ), while the ADL score was significantly different ( p<0.05 ) in the two groups at 3 and 6 weeks , but showed no significant difference after 9 weeks of follow-up. Conclusion: The combination of STMM and RGS improves upper limb ROM, relieves upper limb pain, and reduces the occurrence of disabilities in post-mastectomy patients with the AWS.