UCSF

Study design

Descriptive, cross-sectional.

Introduction

Breast cancer (BC) treatments place the nervous system at risk, which may contribute to upper extremity (UE) mechanosensitivity.

Purpose of the study

To evaluate elbow extension range of motion (EE-ROM) during upper limb neurodynamic testing (ULNT) post-BC treatment.

Methods

ULNT EE-ROM was measured for 145 women post-BC treatment. Women were sub-grouped by presence/absence of pain and lymphedema.

Results

Mean EE-ROM during ULNT1 was -22.3° (SD 11.9°) on the unaffected limb and -25.99° (SD 13.1°) on the affected limb. The women with pain and lymphedema had the greatest limitation in EE-ROM during ULNT1 testing, particularly of their affected limb (-33.8°, SD 12.9). Symptoms were reported more frequently in the affected chest, shoulder, arm, elbow, and hand. The intensity of symptoms was greater at the affected chest (p = 0.046), shoulder (p = 0.033) and arm (p = 0.039).

Conclusions

Women with lymphedema and pain after BC treatment may present with altered neural mechanosensitivity.

Level of evidence

3a.