Effects of vibration therapy in the musculoskeletal system in post-surgical breast cancer women: longitudinal controlled clinical study

Abstract

Introduction: The biomechanical changes that arise after breast cancer increase the need for new rehabilitation programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate medium-and long-term effects of vibration therapy on pain intensity, range of motion, myoelectric activity, and muscle strength of post-surgical breast cancer women. Methods: This controlled longitudinal clinical study was composed of 14 breast cancer women, who underwent vibration therapy treatment (VTG), and 14 healthy women, who constituted the control group (CG). The VTG performed ten 15-minutes sessions of vibration therapy on their affected upper limb. The volunteers were evaluated before and after treatment protocol, and three months later. Results: We observed an attenuation of pain intensity after vibration therapy (p < 0.0001) and significant increase in range of motion during extension, abduction, and adduction movements of the horizontal shoulder. We noticed a trend in the reduction of compensatory movements, which activated the muscle contraction mechanism. The scapular dynamometer values for shoulder strength were significant. The VTG had less muscle strength than the CG in all situations: before treatment (p < 0.0001), after treatment (p = 0.0024), and 3 months later (p = 0.0008). The VTG increased muscle strength after treatment (p = 0.0005) and 3 months later (p = 0.0006). Conclusion: Vibration therapy attenuated pain symptoms, improved shoulder movements, activated muscle contraction mechanism, and increased shoulder strength, which may be benefits of the conducted physical therapy.

The Impact of Vibration Therapy Interventions on Skin Condition and Skin Temperature Changes in Young Women with Lipodystrophy: A Pilot Study

“…By increasing skin microcirculation, the vibration intervention with the Hips module of the massage device applied in the study can improve skin oxygenation and tone, as well as support lipodystrophy reduction, also through an improvement of lymph circulation and the micromassage, generated in the tissue during an intervention [31, 32]. Vibration massage is plausible, among others, for cohorts with the problem of skin dryness [33]. In the course of our study, the participants repeatedly reported an improvement in the general skin condition—that is moistness, elasticity, and softness—which indicates the need for additional investigation in this area.…”

Intervenções fisioterapêuticas utilizadas na reabilitação funcional do membro superior de mulheres pós-mastectomia

“…As intervenções fisioterapêuticas propostas pelos artigos foram: alongamentos dos músculos peitorais [17,19], músculos do pescoço [22,24], cintura escapular [22] e do membro superior [24,25]; mobilização articular da glenoumeral [17,18,19,24,26] e escapulo-torácica [19,24,26]; mobilização neural [18]; educação em saúde [17,23]; massagem cicatricial [17,19,24]; terapia miofascial [19]; terapia convencional descongestiva [18,20]; terapia vibratória [21]; acupuntura [22]; exercício ativo [20,24,26] e fortalecimento muscular [17,19,20,22,24,25].…”