Kinesio Taping Versus Compression Garments for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

Primary end points: to evaluate whether the decrease in BCRL volume is different for a 4-week treatment with KT than with CG.

Research design:

Randomized quasi-experimental clinical pilot study: initial sample randomly balanced into two groups . The initial sample was selected among the patients of "Breast Pathology Rehabilitation" at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre . The planned sample size was 30.

Cross Design: it made possible to evaluate two different treatments in the same patient, cancelling intragroup variability.

Open design: it was impossible to blind patients and physiotherapist researcher because of patent visual differences between the two therapies, CG or KT, both during application and while being worn, and even in the hours after its removal, due to the marks left on the skin. However, at least one external evaluator suitably trained was implemented and performed the randomisation of the groups and collected all patient data. Statistical study was also made by others (staff of the "Clinique Investigation Unit (i+12)" of Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre) with coded variables to blind the analyst.

Inclusion criteria

• Suffering from clinically significant breast cancer-related lymphedema at least since three months ago.
• Having a Compression Garment suitable for the lymphedema arm

Exclusion criteria

• Physiotherapy treatment for lymphedema during the 4 weeks before study start (pre-wash phase).
• Metastasis breast cancer or other tumour.
• Treated with systemic chemotherapy and /or radiotherapy at that time
• Heart Failure or Renal Failure.
• Using Diuretics.
• Bilateral axillary lymphadenectomy.
• Cognitive impairment or delay that impedes understanding the study's instructions.