Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Could Kinesio tape replace the bandage in decongestive lymphatic therapy for breast-cancer-related lymphedema? A pilot study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Goals of work

The purpose of this study is to compare the treatment and retention effects between standard decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT) combined with pneumatic compression (PC) and modified DLT, in which the use of a short-stretch bandage is replaced with the use of Kinesio tape (K-tape) combined with PC.

Materials and methods

Forty-one patients with unilateral breast-cancer-related lymphedema for at least 3 months were randomly grouped into the DLT group (bandage group, N = 21) or the modified DLT group (K-tape group, N = 20). Skin care, 30-min manual lymphatic drainage, 1-h pneumatic compression therapy, application of a short-stretch bandage or K-tape for each group, and a 20-min physical therapy exercise were given during every treatment session. Patient evaluation items included physical therapy assessment, limb size, water composition of the upper extremity, lymphedema-related symptoms, quality of life, and patients’ acceptance to the bandage or tape.

Main results

There was no significant difference between groups in all outcome variables (P > 0.05) through the whole study period. Excess limb size (circumference and water displacement) and excess water composition were reduced significantly in the bandage group; excess circumference and excess water composition were reduced significantly in the tape group. The acceptance of K-tape was better than the bandage, and benefits included longer wearing time, less difficulty in usage, and increased comfort and convenience (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The study results suggest that K-tape could replace the bandage in DLT, and it could be an alternative choice for the breast-cancer-related lymphedema patient with poor short-stretch bandage compliance after 1-month intervention. If the intervention period was prolonged, we might get different conclusion. Moreover, these two treatment protocols are inefficient and cost time in application. More efficient treatment protocol is needed for clinical practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Andersen L, Højris I, Erlandsen M, Andersen J (2000) Treatment of breast-cancer-related lymphoedema with or without manual lymphatic drainage. Acta Oncologica 39:399–405. doi:10.1080/028418600750013186

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brennan MJ, DePompolo RW, Carden FH (1996) Focused review: postmastectomy lymphedema. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 77:S74–S80. doi:10.1016/S0003-9993(96)90248-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Brennan MJ, Miller LT (1998) Overview of treatment options and review of the current role and use of compression garments, intermittent pumps, and exercise in the management of lymphedema. Cancer 83(12 Suppl):2821–2827. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19981215)83:12B+<2821::AID-CNCR33>3.0.CO;2-G

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bunce IH, Miroli BR, Hennessy JM, Ward LC, Jones LC (1994) Post-mastectomy lymphoedema treatment and measurement. Med J Aust 161:125–128

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Casley-Smith JR (1997) Modern treatment for lymph. Lymphoedema Association of Austria, Inc, Malvern

  6. Chen YW, Tsai HJ, Hung HC, Tsauo JY (2008) Reliability study of measurement for lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 87:33–38

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Chie WC, Chang KJ, Huang CS, Kuo WH (2003) Quality of life of breast cancer patients in Taiwan: validation of the Taiwan Chinese version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23. Psychooncology 12:729–735. doi:10.1002/pon.727

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cohen SR, Payne DK, Tunkel RS (2001) Lymphedema: strategies for management. Cancer 92:980–987. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(20010815)92:4+<980::AID-CNCR1410>3.0.CO;2-E

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kase K (1997) Illustrated Kinesio-taping. KEN’IKAI Information, Albuquerque

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kase K, Hashimoto T, Okane T (1998) Kinesio taping perfect manual. Kinesio Taping Association, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kase K, Wallis J, Kase T (2003) Clinical therapeutic applications of the Kinesio taping methods. Kinesio Taping Association, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kisner C, Colby LA (2002) Therapeutic exercise: foundation and techniques. Davis, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ko DSC, Lerner R, Klose G, Cosimi AB (1998) Effective treatment of lymphoedema of the extremities. Arch Surg 133:452–458. doi:10.1001/archsurg.133.4.452

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Leduc O, Leduc A, Bourgeois P, Belgrado JP (1998) The physical treatment of upper limb edema. Cancer 83(12 Suppl):2835–2842. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19981215)83:12B+<2835::AID-CNCR36>3.0.CO;2-V

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Liao SF, Huang MS, Li SH et al (2004) Complex decongestive physiotherapy for patients with chronic cancer-associated lymphedema. J Formos Med Assoc 103:344–348

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Mortimer PS, Bates DO, Brassington HD, Stanton AWB, Strachan DP, Levick JR (1996) The prevalence of arm oedema following treatment for breast cancer. QJM 89:377–380

    Google Scholar 

  17. O’Donnell T (2003) Principles of medical and physical treatment. In: Browse SN, Burnand KG, Mortimer PS (eds) Diseases of the lymphatics. Arnold, New York, pp 151–178

    Google Scholar 

  18. Pain SJ, Purushotham AD (2000) Lymphoedema following surgery for breast cancer. Br J Surg 87:1128–1141. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2168.2000.01569.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Passik SD, McDonald MV (1998) Psychosocial aspects of upper extremity lymphedema in women treated for breast carcinoma. Cancer 83(12 Suppl):2817–2820. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19981215)83:12B+<2817::AID-CNCR32>3.0.CO;2-2

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Szuba A, Achalu R, Rockson SG (2002) Decongestive lymphatic therapy for patients with breast carcinoma-associated lymphoedema. Cancer 95:2260–2267. doi:10.1002/cncr.10976

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Szuba A, Cooke JP, Yousuf S, Rockson SG (2000) Decongestive lymphatic therapy for patients with cancer-related or primary lymphoedema. Am J Med 109:296–300. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(00)00503-9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Tobin M, Lacey HJ, Meyer L, Mortimer PS (1993) The psychological morbidity of breast cancer-related arm swelling. Cancer 72:3248–3252. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(19931201)72:11<3248::AID-CNCR2820721119>3.0.CO;2-Z

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Tsai HJ, Liu UX, Tsauo JY (2005) Reliability of lymphedema measurement. FJPT 30:124–131

    Google Scholar 

  24. Williams AF, Vadgama A, Franks PJ, Mortimer PS (2002) A randomized controlled crossover study of manual lymphatic drainage therapy in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 11:254–261. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2354.2002.00312.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Yang JL, Wu YT (2003) Physical therapy for lymphedema. FJPT 28:157–116

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Floor 3, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei, 100, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Han-Ju Tsai, Hsiu-Chuan Hung & Jau-Yih Tsauo

  2. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chun-Shan S. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Jing-Lan Yang

  3. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and Hospital, No. 7, Chun-Shan S. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chiun-Sheng Huang

  4. Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chun-Shan S. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Jau-Yih Tsauo

Authors
  1. Han-Ju Tsai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hsiu-Chuan Hung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jing-Lan Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chiun-Sheng Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jau-Yih Tsauo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jau-Yih Tsauo.

Additional information

Funding was provided by the National Science Council of The Republic of China, Taipei 106, Taiwan (R.O.C.) NSC93-2314-B-002-118.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tsai, HJ., Hung, HC., Yang, JL. et al. Could Kinesio tape replace the bandage in decongestive lymphatic therapy for breast-cancer-related lymphedema? A pilot study. Support Care Cancer 17, 1353–1360 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0592-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0592-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation