Extracorporeal shock wave therapy versus microcurrent on pain and lymphedema post mastectomy
Keywords:
Mastectomy, Lymphedema, Pain, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Microcurrent Electrical Nerve StimulationAbstract
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and microcurrent electrical nerve stimulation (MENS) in the treatment of female patients with post-mastectomy shoulder pain and lymphedema.
Methods: Thirty female patients, aged 40–65 years, with unilateral breast cancer, secondary upper limb lymphedema (stage I-II), and shoulder pain post-mastectomy were referred by oncologists from Tanta Oncology Centre, El Gharbia, Egypt. They were randomly divided into two equal groups (A and B). Group A underwent extracorporeal shock wave therapy twice weekly for four weeks, combined with traditional physical therapy, including skincare, lymphatic drainage, bandaging, and exercise. Group B received microcurrent electrical nerve stimulation for 15 minutes, three times weekly for four weeks, alongside the same traditional physical therapy. Assessments were performed before and after four weeks of treatment using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and arm volume measurements.
Findings: There was a significant decrease in the VAS in groups A and B (p<0.05). There was no significant post-treatment difference in the VAS assessment between both groups (p>0.05) When compared with its corresponding value in group B, group A presented a statistically significant decrease in the mean value of arm limb volume assessment (p<0.05)
Conclusions: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and microcurrent electrical nerve stimulation (MENS) reduced pain in the upper limb post-mastectomy, while ESWT had more effect on reducing lymphedema of the upper limb than MENS.
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