Exercising and Compression Mechanism in the Treatment of Lymphedema

Maria De Fatima Guerreiro Godoy,Henrique Jose Pereira De Godoy,Jose Maria Pereira De Godoy,Stelamarys Barufi

doi:10.7759/cureus.16121

Maria De Fatima Guerreiro Godoy, Henrique Jose Pereira De Godoy + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.16121

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Journal: Cureus	Publication Date: Jul 2, 2021
Citations: 9	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adjustments to a compression stocking on reductions in leg volume during walking in patients with lymphedema.Method: Fourteen women and three men suffering from leg lymphedema with ages between 21 and 68 years old (mean 45.68 years) were randomly enrolled in this study. Evaluations were made by volumetry before and after each session of controlled walking. Patients were subjected to three one-hour sessions of walking slowly on the flat ground monitored by a professional. For the first session, the patients used a well-adjusted cotton-polyester compression stocking, for the second they used a badly adjusted compression stocking made of the same fabric, and for the third, no compression garment was used. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis.Results: On comparing the volume before and after walking for one hour with the well-adjusted cotton-polyester compression stocking, there was a mean reduction of 46.2 mL ± 66.95 mL (p-value < 0.02) in the volume of the lymphedema. In the one-hour session of walking without any compression, the volume of the leg increased by 74.4 mL ± 99.75 mL (p-value < 0.007). On walking with the compression stocking badly adjusted, there was a mean increase in the volume of 31.6 mL ± 46.9 mL (p-value < 0.14).Conclusion: Walking is a type of muscle activity that can be transformed into a type of daily exercise when you are guided by how it is going to be performed. The exercise, in this study specifically, walking, with a strict control of speed and time of realization using a compression mechanism is well adjusted to the volume of the limb and surely effective in reducing edema.

Highlights

Lymphedema affects many populations, there is no cure, and there are few therapeutic prospects involving, in general, the private sector
On comparing the volume before and after walking for one hour with the well-adjusted cottonpolyester compression stocking, there was a mean reduction of 46.2 mL ± 66.95 mL (p-value < 0.02) in the volume of the lymphedema
On walking with the compression stocking badly adjusted, there was a mean increase in the volume of 31.6 mL ± 46.9 mL (p-value < 0.14)

Summary

Introduction

Lymphedema affects many populations, there is no cure, and there are few therapeutic prospects involving, in general, the private sector. There is no consensus on a single therapy to treat lymphedema; manual lymph drainage [2], compression therapy [3], exercising [4], and hygienic care [5] constitute the cornerstones of treatment. Other options such as mechanical lymph drainage with devices that use both passive [6] and active [7] muscle movements, psychological support [8], and myolymphokinetic activities [9] have improved the treatment in these patients. Both ongoing and in press, show that the association of these activities with compression garments maintains losses achieved during lymph drainage [10,11,12]

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