Comparative effects of massage therapy and bandage on shoulder pain, edema and dysfunction after the modified radical mastectomy

Mastectomic patients experience complications such as edema of the operated hand, shoulder pain and dysfunction. This study was conducted to compare the effects of manual lymph drainage and low pressure bandage on shoulder pain and dysfunction after modified radical mastectomy. In this clinical trial study, 90 women with radical mastectomy referred to the oncology ward of Imam Khomeini hospital (Tehran) were randomly assigned to three groups: the massage, massage+bandage and control groups. Groups were trained how to use manual lymph drainage massage and low pressure bandage. Shoulder pain intensity and dysfunction were measured at 7 and 30 days post-surgery. Edema was measured at 24 hours post-surgery and also 30 days post-intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis). There was no statistically significant difference among three groups in the means of three measured variables (the arm circumference, shoulder pain intensity and dysfunction) before the intervention. Moreover, the results showed a significant reduction in the means of shoulder pain intensity and dysfunction among the three groups on the 30th intervention day (P=0.001), but the difference was not significant in the mean of arm circumference. Lymphatic drainage massage and low pressure bandage are effective in reducing post-mastectomy complications.