Study: Women in Exercise Program Recover Shoulder Mobility More Rapidly

Women who participate in an exercise program after breast cancer surgery recover shoulder mobility more rapidly than women who are given only written material about exercises, according to Australian researchers.

Within three months of surgery, women who participated in a physical therapy program had a 14 percent greater ability to extend their arm from a vertical position at the side to a horizontal position than women who did not participate in the therapy program, according to the study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

Women who have a greater recovery of this shoulder movement have an easier time with tasks such as hair brushing, zipping up a dress, driving, and reaching for items on high shelves.

The study included 66 women who had breast cancer surgery who were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group had regular physical therapy and the other group was given only an instruction booklet and did not receive any instruction or supervision. The women's progress was checked at three, six, 12 and 24 months after surgery.

Researchers found that the 32 women in the physical therapy group recovered more shoulder movement at three months and had seven percent greater range of movement at 24 months than the non-therapy group. The therapy group also had a better overall ability to use their arm at one month.

"The [program] provided in the early postoperative period is effective in facilitating and maintaining the recovery of shoulder movement over the first two years after breast cancer surgery," concluded the researchers.

Other sources: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, American Cancer Society