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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Sep 1;31(9):550.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07959-1.

Effects of combined exercises on shoulder mobility and strength of the upper extremities in breast cancer rehabilitation: a 3-week randomized controlled trial

Dominique Michels  1 , Stefan König  2 , Alexandra Heckel  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of combined exercises on shoulder mobility and strength of the upper extremities in breast cancer rehabilitation: a 3-week randomized controlled trial

Dominique Michels et al. Support Care Cancer. .

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of mobility training with FIVE® devices in combination with device-supported strength exercises for shoulder mobility and strength of the upper extremities in women with breast cancer.

Methods: We conducted a pretest-posttest intervention study with female breast cancer patients (n = 41) who were randomly assigned to two groups by lot during their stationary follow-up treatment at a rehabilitation clinic in the south of Germany between February and March 2020. As part of exercise therapy, the intervention group (n = 24) performed a mobility training with FIVE® devices combined with device-supported strength training, whereas the control group (n = 17) completed device-supported strength training. Before and after the 3-week intervention (3 training sessions/week), shoulder mobility and isokinetic maximal strength were tested.

Results: Both groups achieved significant improvements in shoulder mobility in the frontal and sagittal plane (between 3.8 and 15.35%; p < 0.05) and in strength performance (31.36% [IG] vs. 51.24% [CG]; p < 0.001). However, no robust evidence could be determined about potential interaction effects.

Conclusion: A combined device-supported strength and mobility training (FIVE®) showed no advantages. Therefore, a variety of exercise methods is possible in exercise therapy of breast cancer patients.

Clinical trial registration number: Since the University of Education Weingarten does not assign clinical trial registration numbers or ethical approval numbers, none could be assigned for this study.

Keywords: Breast cancer rehabilitation; Exercise therapy; Mobility training; Physical activity; Strength training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CONSORT flow diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Confidence intervals—mobility frontal left (pre-post) and right (pre-post) by group. b Confidence intervals—mobility sagittal left (pre-post) and right (pre-post) by group. c Confidence intervals—strength (pre-post) by group
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of effect sizes Hedges’ g (0.2 = small, 0.5 = moderate, 0.8 = large) [24]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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