Impact of Physical Exercise on Lymphedema Related to Breast Cancer: Assessment Using Thermography

The perimeter of the arm affected by lymphedema will be measured to assess the reduction in lymphedema volume in the participants. This measurement will be taken before and after the intervention to compare changes and determine the impact of physical exercise on inflammation and the size of the affected arm

Thermography will be used to assess the temperature distribution in the arm affected by lymphedema. A thermal image will be taken before and after the intervention to observe changes in inflammation and circulation in the affected area, allowing the evaluation of whether physical exercise has an effect on the reduction of temperature associated with lymphedema

The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire will be used to assess the functionality of the arm in the participants. This questionnaire measures limitations in daily activities related to the arm affected by lymphedema. It will be administered before and after the intervention to assess changes in mobility and functional capacity following physical exercise. In the DASH questionnaire, higher scores indicate greater disability, while lower scores indicate less disability

Bicipital and tricipital skinfold measurements will be taken to assess the body composition and body fat percentage of the participants. These measurements will help analyze the impact of physical exercise on the reduction of body fat and potential improvements in muscle mass, especially in the area affected by lymphedema. The skinfolds will be measured in millimeters (mm), and body fat percentage will be measured in percentage (%).

The RS-14 Questionnaire (Resilience Scale for Adults) will be used to assess resilience in the participants. This questionnaire will allow us to observe whether the physical exercise intervention has an effect on the participants. In the RS-14 questionnaire, higher scores indicate greater resilience, while lower scores indicate lower resilience.

Maximum and Minimum Scores: The questionnaire consists of 14 items, each rated on a Likert scale from 1 to 7, where:

1 means "strongly disagree" 7 means "strongly agree"

The scores are summed to obtain a total score, with a scoring range of 14 to 98:

Minimum score: 14 (low resilience) Maximum score: 98 (high resilience)

The Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) questionnaire will measure the level of emotional intelligence in the participants, including the perception, understanding, and regulation of emotions. It will be administered before and after the intervention to evaluate whether physical exercise influences the improvement of emotional intelligence in patients with lymphedema.

Scores: The TMMS-24 questionnaire consists of 24 items, distributed across three dimensions:

Emotional Perception Emotional Understanding Emotional Regulation

Each item is rated on a Likert scale from 1 to 5, where:

1 means "strongly disagree" 5 means "strongly agree"

Scores are summed within each dimension, and a total emotional intelligence score is obtained, with score ranges indicating different levels of emotional ability:

Low score: Indicates lower capacity in emotional perception, understanding, and regulation.

High score: Indicates greater capacity in these areas.

The MOS Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) questionnaire will be used to measure the level of social support received by the participants. This questionnaire will help identify how social support may influence the response to physical exercise.

Scores: The MOS-SSS questionnaire consists of several questions related to different dimensions of social support, such as emotional, instrumental, and relational support. Responses are rated on a Likert scale from 1 to 5, where:

1 means "None" (indicating a very low level of social support) 5 means "A lot" (indicating a very high level of social support) Scores are summed to obtain a total score, and in this case, higher scores indicate a higher level of social support, while lower scores indicate a lower level of social support.

Changes in the participants' weight will be evaluated throughout the study. Weight will be measured in kilograms (kg), and these measurements will allow us to observe whether the physical exercise intervention has an effect on weight loss or gain in the participants. Additionally, the Body Mass Index (BMI) will be calculated for each participant, which is obtained by dividing weight (in kilograms) by height squared (in meters). The height of the participants will also be measured in meters (m) to assess changes in their overall body composition.

Body water percentages will be measured for each participant using validated measuring devices, such as a Tanita. This will provide a more complete picture of changes in body composition, as body water is a key indicator of hydration and overall body balance. With these measurements, it will be possible to identify variations in the distribution of fluids and other important components of the body over time.

Body fat percentages will be measured for each participant using validated measuring devices, such as a Tanita. This will provide a more complete picture of changes in body composition, as body water is a key indicator of hydration and overall body balance. With these measurements, it will be possible to identify variations in the distribution of fluids and other important components of the body over time.