Effect of acupoint electric stimulation on lymphatic edema after operation in young patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of acupoint electric stimulation with exercise on lymphatic edema in patients with breast cancer after operation. Methods A total of 90 patients with lymphedema of young patients with breast cancer were selected from April 2015 to May 2016. The patients were divided into intervention group and control group by random number grouping, 45 cases in each group. The patients of intervention group was treated with acupoint electric stimulation combined with pneumatic treatment and the system rehabilitation exercise combined with treatment, and the patients of control group adopted pneumatic treatment at the same time to carry out systematic rehabilitation exercise treatment program. The limb lymph edema and shoulder range were observed when patients treated after 1 week as well as 1, 3, 6 months. Results In the intervention group, 1, 3, 6 months after treatment, the increasing in the volume of limb edema was significantly smaller than that of the control group (P<0.05) . In the two groups, the time effect for shoulder mobility for middle extended and abduction was statistically significant (P<0.001) . Conclusions Acupoint electrical stimulation combined therapy can effectively improve the postoperative lymphedema in young patients with breast cancer, and increase the angle of abduction of the upper limb joint. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Lymphatic edema; Acupoint electric stimulation