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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07729735

Physiotherapy After Breast Reduction Surgery

Background and Purpose:

Breast reduction surgery is a major procedure that can lead to post-operative pain, postural deviations, and a temporary decline in quality of life.This clinical study aims to investigate the efficacy of early-phase physical therapy on pain management, postural alignment, and overall quality of life in female patients following breast reduction surgery.

Study Design and Participants:

This is a controlled clinical trial involving 40 female participants aged 18 to 50 who have undergone their first breast reduction surgery. Participants are divided into two groups: an intervention group (n=20) and a control group (n=20). The study follows a pre-test and post-test design to evaluate outcomes before and after a three-week intervention period.

Intervention Protocol:

The intervention group receives a comprehensive physical therapy program starting one week post-operation. The program is conducted three days a week for three weeks, with sessions lasting 40 to 60 minutes The protocol includes:

Postural and cervical exercises Scapular stabilization and manual therapy Scar massage and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) as needed A structured home exercise program.

Outcome Measures:

Primary and secondary outcomes are assessed through various clinical tools:

Pain:Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Posture: New York Posture Test, measurements of scapular protraction and cervical anterior tilt Mobility:Shoulder and cervical Range of Motion (ROM) Quality of Life and Health: SF-12, BREAST-Q, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

Expected Results:

The study anticipates that the early-phase physical therapy group will demonstrate a significant reduction in pain, improved postural alignment, and a higher quality of life compared to the control group.

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Key information

Conditions

Breast Dyssomnias Mammaplasty Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Posture Signs and Symptoms Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Quality Sleep Wake Disorders

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Istanbul Rumeli university

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Being between 18 and 50 years of age
  • Having undergone aesthetic breast reduction surgery
  • Having a complication-free postoperative period
  • Agreeing to participate in the study voluntarily and having signed the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

  • Oncological History:

Those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the pre-operative or per-operative period, or those with a history of radiotherapy/chemotherapy to the breast area,

  • Lymphovenous Disorders: Those with lymphedema in the upper extremity or vascular insufficiency that may severely affect lymphatic drainage,
  • Musculoskeletal and Nervous System Pathologies: Those with orthopedic diseases such as severe scoliosis, ankylosing spondylitis, or neurological diseases such as brachial plexus lesions that may affect posture analysis and shoulder mobility,
  • Systemic Diseases: Those with uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus, which directly negatively affects wound healing, or those with active autoimmune connective tissue diseases,
  • Exercise Contraindications: Patients with cardiopulmonary failure or severe cognitive impairment that would prevent participation in the physiotherapy protocol.

Treatment and study plan

Physiotherapy

Other

The participants will attend a physiotherapy programme. The programme includes some exercises.

Primary outcomes

  1. Breast-Q Reduction Module Score

    Time frame: Baseline (preoperative) and 4 weeks after treatment

    Breast-related satisfaction will be assessed using the BREAST-Q Reduction Module.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Posture Evaluation

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after treatment

    New York Posture Rating Test score will be assessed.

  2. Pain Intensity (VAS)

    Time frame: Baseline (preoperative) and 4 weeks after treatment

    Pain intensity will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). Participants will mark their pain level on the scale, and the distance in centimeters will be recorded.

  3. Quality of Life (SF-12)

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after treatment

    Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the SF-12 questionnaire.

  4. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Total Score

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after treatment

    Total PSQI score will be assessed.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Rumeli University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Physiotherapy After Breast Reduction Surgery.

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 27, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 27, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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