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Do Women with Breast Cancer–related Lymphoedema Need to Wear Compression While Exercising?: Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Current Breast Cancer Reports volume 12, pages 193–201 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of wearing compression versus no compression during a single bout of exercise, and during an exercise intervention, for those with breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL). A multiple database search was undertaken to identify eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs involving those with BCRL. The primary outcome variable was lymphoedema and pooled statistics were calculated using standardised mean differences (SMDs) within or between compression and no compression groups.

Recent Findings

Six eligible studies were identified and rated as either moderate (n = 5) or strong (n = 1) quality. No within-group change in lymphoedema was observed after a single bout of exercise or after an exercise intervention period with compression (SMD = − 0.08 [95% CI = − 0.36, 0.21]; and SMD = − 0.20 [95% CI = − 0.63, 0.22], respectively) or without compression (SMD = 0.05 [95% CI = − 0.23, 0.34]; and, SMD = − 0.17 [95% CI = − 0.56, 0.22], respectively). There was also no between-group difference found post-exercise (single bout or intervention period) between those exercising with and without compression (SMD = − 0.08 [95% CI = − 0.28, 0.12]).

Summary

There appears to be no consistent benefit or adverse effect of wearing compression for BCRL during a single exercise bout or an exercise intervention period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Sandi Hayes

  2. Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, University of Lyon, UJM-Saint-Etienne, A 7424, F-42023, Saint-Etienne, France

    Ben Singh

  3. University Hospitals Centre for Health Research (UCSF), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Kira Bloomquist

  4. Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Karin Johansson

Authors
  1. Sandi Hayes
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  2. Ben Singh
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Correspondence to Sandi Hayes.

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Conflict of Interest

Sandi Hayes, Ben Singh, Kira Bloomquist, and Karin Johansson declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Lymphedema incidence, prevention and treatment

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Hayes, S., Singh, B., Bloomquist, K. et al. Do Women with Breast Cancer–related Lymphoedema Need to Wear Compression While Exercising?: Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 12, 193–201 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-020-00373-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-020-00373-0

Keywords

  • Lymphoedema
  • Exercise
  • Compression
  • Breast cancer