Breathing technique may enhance lymphedema therapy in breast cancer survivors
NCT ID NCT07676045
First seen Jun 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether adding diaphragmatic breathing exercises to standard manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) therapy reduces arm swelling and pain better than MLD alone in women who developed lymphedema after a radical mastectomy. Participants are female breast cancer survivors aged 18 to 65 with stage I or II lymphedema. The trial measures changes in arm circumference, shoulder movement, pain levels, and daily function over four weeks of treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Manual lymphatic drainage and diaphragmatic breathing exercises
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this combination therapy could offer a simple, drug-free way to reduce lymphedema swelling and improve arm function after breast cancer surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with 58 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The benefits of adding breathing exercises may be modest or not clinically significant.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Femwell Physiotherapy Clinic
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Study reveals hidden walking changes in breast cancer survivors
- New surgical trick could stop arm swelling in breast cancer survivors
- New app helps breast cancer survivors manage arm swelling at home