Effects of Different Variations of Physical Practice and Mental Imagery on Shoulder Joint Degree of Freedom (range of motion) of Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy Post Radical Mastectomy

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical practice, mental practice and a combination of physical and mental practice on shoulder joint degree of freedom (range of motion) in women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy post radical Mastectomy. Participants were 40 women with breast cancer in Isfahan Milad hospital whom were divided into four groups: physical practice, mental practice, combination of physical and mental practice and control. Participants of the experimental groups exercised for 25 sessions, 30 minutes in each session. We took shoulder joint range of motion test at pre-intervention and post-intervention. To analyze data, one-way ANOVA was used. Results showed between groups difference in shoulder joint degree of freedom. Physical practice resulted in improvement of all shoulder joint range of motion except adduction; the mental practice led to improvement of all of range of motion except adduction and internal rotation. The combination practice improved all of the measured variables. The effect of physical practice was found to be better than mental practice in flexion, extension, abduction and external rotation. Combination practice was better than physical practice in internal rotation. Combination practice was better than mental practice in all variables. In medical centers, the combination of physical and mental practice can be used to help women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy radical mastectomy for improving shoulder joint range of motion.