PURPOSE
This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to confirm the effects of exercise on Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BCRL) in breast cancer survivors.
METHODS
Totally, 1,614 articles were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, Korea Med, Kmbase, KISS, NDSL, KiSTi, and academic journals related to nursing in Korea between June 17 and 18, 2019. Fifteen Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were selected for the analysis from June 19 to July 12, 2019. Cochrane's Risk of Bias assessed the quality and risk of bias of selected articles. Review Manager version 5.3 was used for the meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Studies were published since 2006 including a total of 1,109 participants who were diagnosed with or at risk of BCRL or had undergone surgery for breast cancer treatment. Although exercises were found ineffective for reducing upper extremity edema (Z=0.37, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=−0.06~0.04, p=.710), they significantly improved shoulder Range of Motion (ROM), especially flexion (Z=5.88, 95% CI=3.06~6.12, p<.001) and abduction (Z=3.41, 95% CI=2.71~10.06, p<.001), upper extremity function (Z=4.02, 95% CI=−12.09~−4.17, p<.001), and Quality of Life (QoL) (Z=3.00, 95% CI=0.13~0.61, p=.003). Egger's regression test assessed publication bias (Intercept=3.75, t=1.79, df=8, p=.111).
CONCLUSION
Results suggest that exercise is beneficial to BCRL management, especially improvement of shoulder ROM, upper extremity function, and QoL. However, exercise must be performed carefully to prevent side effects. Therefore, nurses should continuously observe signs and symptoms related to BCRL and educate breast cancer survivors on safely performing exercise.

Citations

• A Narrative Inquiry of the Difficulties by Breast Cancer Survivors in the Sports Participating
  Ji Yeon Suh, Seami Lim, Junho Lee
  IJASS(International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences).2022; : 203.     CrossRef
• Funcionalidad y marcha en pacientes con linfedema de miembro inferior tratados mediante un programa de ejercicio terapéutico: serie de casos
  P. Toro, P. Araya-Castro, E. Srur
  Fisioterapia.2021; 43(3): 143.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the meridian massage on the hand edema, activities of daily living (ADL), and depression in hemiplegic stroke patients.
METHODS
The research was a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group pre-post test. The subjects were 40 stroke patients who admitted to rehabilitation department in a hospital. The data was collected from January to March, 2009 used the millimeter measurement for checking hand edema and the structured questionnaires. The meridian massage on affected hand was carried out for 10 minutes per day during 2 weeks to the experimental group. Descriptive statistics, -test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test with SPSS/WIN 12.0 program were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
After the intervention, there were statistically significant differences in the changes of hand edema, ADL, and depression in the experimental group compared with the control group.
CONCLUSION
The meridian massage was effective in improving hand edema, the level of ADL, and depression for the hemiplegic stroke patients. Therefore the meridian massage can be utilized as an effective adjuvant therapy for stroke patients suffering from hand edema in clinical practice.

PURPOSE
This qualitative study aimed to understand the experiences of reorganization of everyday lives among the women with chronic health problem.
METHODS
In this study, the approach and its process of sociology of everyday lives were adopted. Data for the study came from 6 informants and 9 family members of the informants by interview and participant-observation from January, 2004 to May, 2006. Qualitative content analyzing methods were adopted.
RESULTS
Informants' everyday lives were reorganized as follows. During the experiences of shock from unpleasant and unclear symptoms of their body, their sight fixed on the body part. Their time also fixed on a point of present. They started to wander from medical care to folk and lay care. After they were informed that the health problem could not be treated completely, they reduced the world of everyday life and protected themselves from the chaotic unfamiliar world by setting -a- side duties as a family member and severing unessential social relationship. As they achieved a skill for managing their health problem, they gained their former pattern of everyday lives as a woman, a family member, and a social member. Finally, they created a new life world.
CONCLUSION
We need more study on the development of an adaptive strategy by the informants, to intervene in the crisis of everyday life.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to provide nursing intervention with basic data extracted through investigating self-care and nursing of lymphedema in patient who have had a mastectomy.
METHOD
The subjects for this study consisted of 214 mastectomy patients in 2 hospitals. The data were collected from December 1, 2004 to February 28, 2005. The instruments used for this study were both the Self-care Practice Scale by Cho, Myoung-Ok et al.(2003) which we modified and the Nursing Evaluation Scale developed by the researchers.
RESULTS
The mean score of self-care on lymphedema was 59.96+/-12.46. The mean score of nursing was 25.64+/-9.25. Factors influencing the self-care were the postoperative period (F= 17.505, p<.001), the location of the tumor (F= 3.826, p=.023), menstruation (t=7.333, p=.007), and complications (F=5.427, p<.001).
CONCLUSION
Self-care and nursing care on the lymphedema management were shown to be lower than expected. Especially, the score of self-care was the lowest in the more than 3 year postoperative period. Therefore, the longer the postoperative period is, the more active management on lymphedema needs to be. Also, education should be given to both nurses and patients on the importance of self-care on lymphedema with mastectomies.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study were to examine the incidence of lymphedema and to compare to physiological and psychosocial symptoms between breast cancer patients with lymphedema and without lymphedema.
METHOD
Four hundreds fifty women with breast cancer receiving mastectomy were recruited from two out-patient breast clinics of A and S university hospitals in Seoul, Korea from October, 2004 to May, 2005. Lymphedema was defined by circumferential measurement. Differences greater than 2cm between the affected arm and normal arm were considered to be lymphedema. A descriptive design was used for this study and data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test.
RESULTS
Lymphedema developed in 112(24.9%) of the 450 subjects. Subjects with lymphedema reported more severe sensation change of arm and more depression and confusion than subjects without lymphedema. Range of motion of shoulder as a physical indicator and social support, however, were not significantly different between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Lymphedema is recognized as an unpleasant and uncomfortable consequence of breast cancer- related treatment. Therefore, more research is needed to evaluate the impact of lymphedema on quality of life in patients with lymphedema and the efficacy of nursing intervention.

PURPOSE
The objective of the study was to identify the effects of the meridian massage therapy on hand edema and hand functions in patients with hemiplegia. METHOD: The experiment was conducted in the Oriental Medical ward of "K" hospital during the period of 2000. 12. 15 - 2001. 03. 15. Fifty five subjects with hemiplegia following a stroke participated in the study. Volumetric size of the hand and the circumference of the index finger of each patient was measured and functional points were recorded for pre and post experiment. RESULT: 1. Apparent decrease in volumetric size of the hand and the circumference of the index finger(p=.022. p=.021), and higher functional points(p=.003) in the experimental group in comparison to the control group. 2.Volume of hands & their functions appeared to be irrelevant(r=-.195, p=.154). 3. Circumference of the index finger & their functions also turned out to be irrelevant (r=-.110, p=.424). CONCLUSION: Meridian massage is an effective nursing interventional therapy to relieve hand edema and improve hand functions in hemiplegic patients and has great potential for use in a wide range of medical fields as an efficient supplementary treatment for stroke rehabilitation.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this descriptive study was to gain basic data to develop a self-care protocol for the lymphedema patients.
METHOD
The subjects of this study consisted of 115 patients with lymphedema from 8 hospitals and two community health and welfare centers in Busan and Seoul. The data was collected with questionnaire by self reporting of patients between March 2001 and December 2001. Data was analyzed by mean and percentage.
RESULT
For self-care activities in daily life, compliance of 'use skin care preparations', 'use heat and cold', 'protect from local compression on affected limbs', 'protect from insect biting', 'use aids to protect affected limbs', 'take diuretics and take protein diet' did not reach to 50%. For self-care activities related to complex physical therapy, 28.7% of subjects complied with compression garment, 14.8% with manual lymph drainage, and 13.0% with exercise. 20.0% of subjects tried to treat with acupuncture and 13.9% with heat therapy.
CONCLUSION
From this study, it is suggested that patients need to get a self-care education with correct information about self care activities and health care professionals need to develop more convenience self-care techniques of massage and exercise.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was the development of a comprehensive nursing intervention program for the client with acute lymph stasis and stage I lymphedema.
METHOD
The Quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group was used. The subjects were 22 stroke patients with lymph stasis in the control group and 23 patients in the experimental group. The complex physical therapy of Casley-Smith was carried out to the control group for 10 hours, and comprehensive nursing intervention for the experimental group was carried out for 60 minutes. The data for this study was gathered from Feb. 2002 until June 2002 and pertains knowledge about lymphedema, self-care for managing lymphedema, and circumferences of affected limbs. Data was analyzed by mean, standard deviation, x2-test, and t-test.
RESULT
The changes in knowledge about lymphedema, self-care practices, and circumference of affected limbs after nursing intervention did not show significant differences between control group and experiment group.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that comprehensive nursing intervention had more efficiency than complex physical therapy in the treatment of edema for stroke patients because of it's simplicity and time saving. Thereby, the comprehensive nursing intervention program developed in this study would be a useful therapy for the clients with lymph stasis and early stage lymphedema.