| Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of isokinetic training to pectoralis major & minor for improving the lymphedema after surgery of breast cancer. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with lymphedema of the upper limbs following surgery of breast cancer were randomly allocated into control group and isokinetic group. Both groups received normal rehabilitation training, and isokinetic group was given isokinetic training additionally. The lymphatic return and the circumference of the upper limbs were recorded before and after the training. The maximum torque (MT), the total work (TW), and the average work (AW) were recorded in the isokinetic group before and after the training. Results: Two months after treatment, lymphatic return and circumference of the upper limbs in both two groups were improved as compared with those pretreatment (P<0.05), more significantly in the isokinetic group than in the control group (P<0.05). After training, average MT, TW and AW were increased significantly in the isokinetic group as compared with those before training (P<0.05). Conclusion: Isokinetic training for pectoralis major & minor can increase the lymphatic return, and alleviate the lymphedema. |
