Archive | 2021
Effects of Free Range-of-Motion Upper Limb Exercise Based on Mirror Therapy on Shoulder Function in Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
\n Background Shoulder function complications are common after surgery for breast cancer. Quite a few survivors still reported a limited shoulder range of motion, even though the free range-of-motion upper limb exercise is helpful to restore shoulder function post-operatively. Mirror therapy(MT) is a classical and effective rehabilitation technique to recover motor and sensory function for limbs, in addition, studies have reported that MT has the influence on patients with shoulder functional dysfunction including increasing shoulder range of motion, improving shoulder function scores, and decreasing pain scores. Here we describe a protocol of a randomized controlled trial to explore if the free range-of-motion upper limb exercise based on mirror therapy has efficacy on shoulder function in breast cancer survivors after surgery.Methods/design This is a prospective, single-blind, two-arm randomized controlled trial. An estimated 70 participants will be randomly allocated to 1) MT group or 2) control group. The participants in the control group receive free range-of-motion upper limb exercise, and participants in the MT group will engages in free range-of-motion upper limb exercise based on mirror therapy. The intervention will start from the first day after surgery and will be completde at 8 weeks after surgery. Primary outcomes in this protocol is shoulder range of motion(ROM), while the Constant-Murley Score(CMS), Disability of arm, shoulder, and hand Questionnaire (DASH), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (13-item TSK), Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), grip strength, arm circumference, and lypmphedema are secondary outcomes. Assessment will be conducted before allocation(baseline) and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after surgery.Discussion Based on results that mirror therapy has influence on shoulder function immediately after intervention in patients without nerve injury, this randomized controlled trial is the first study to observe the efficacy of mirror therapy on shoulder function after a long time intervention in breast cancer survivors. We look forward the innovation of this study for both breast cancer rehabilitation and mirror therapy. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): ChiCTR 2000033080. Registered on 19 May 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx.