ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine in patients following breast cancer surgery, the shoulder range of motion restrictions during occupational therapy as well as their upper extremity functioning and the daily life activities and their quality of life in order to assess the effects of their postoperative therapy. Methods : From September 2009 to April 2010, occupational therapy was conducted to increase the limited range of motion after breast surgery performed on 73 patients. For this treatment, occupational therapy, functional training, and daily life activities were performed more than twice weekly in order to provide home treatment programs which were then continually reviewed and appropriately modified. The duration of treatment of the limited shoulder joint range of motion continued until a normal angle of less than 20% was achieved. Information regarding the passive range of motion of the shoulder joint before and after treatment, upper extremity disability (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand; DASH), the quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General; FACT-G), and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale; FSS), was collected and the data then analyzed. Results : Following the occupational therapy, shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation range of motion showed significant change. (p<.001) The upper limb disability score (DASH) significantly improved (p<.001) but not show a statistically significant correlation between DASH and general characters like patient age, the period of treatment, treatment frequency. Quality of life (FACT- G) showed significant difference at physical and Well-Being(p<.001), but the social and functional Well- Being did not change significantly. Patient fatigue(FFS) significantly improved after treatment (p<.001) with the increase in the number of treatments showing a decrease in patient fatigue. Conclusion : Breast cancer resection joint occupational therapy for patients with limited shoulder range of motion, when applied to the upper extremities as well as used to promote the improvement of patients’ everyday life with a decrease in disability and improvement in their quality of life, appeared to be effective and successful. Therefore, considering this information as part of breast cancer clinical treatment together with a variety of tasks that can be used as part of the therapy should demonstrate the success and usefulness of this treatment and postoperative therapy.