A 1998 Canadian-authored article (Physical Therapist Management of Lymphedema Following Treatment for Breast Cancer: a critical review of its effectiveness, Physical Therapy, Vol. 78, No. 12, Dec. 1998) which reviewed 13 research studies using physical therapy for the management of lymphedema following treatment for breast cancer, has found compression garments alone effective in reducing limb size, particularly after six months of use.

Other results of the review found the following forms of therapy effective:

• Complex physical therapy (CPT), although a modified program involving only twice-weekly treatments and pressure garments rather than compression bandaging was found to be just as effective;
• Combinations of treatments involving massage, pneumatic pump and compression garments;
• The use of a gradient pump followed by the use of compression garments.

The study noted the use of microwave treatment in combination with compression garment use had demonstrated promising results. Elevation alone was not found to be effective.

The review paper cautioned, however, that none of the studies cited fulfilled all of the criteria needed for sound scientific methods and called for more rigorous review of the recommended forms of therapy to more accurately determine their effectiveness.

The systematic research review was undertaken by Antoinette Megens, PT, a student in the Master of Science of Rehabilitation Sciences Program, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. and clinician at the British Columbia Children's Hospital in Vancouver, B.C. It was jointly authored by Dr. Susan Harris, PhD, FAPTA, Professor of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia. The report was supported in part by a research grant to Dr. Harris from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

For more information contact Dr. Harris at shar@rehab.ubc.ca