BACKGROUND: Prospective investigations of complete decongestive lymphatic physiotherapy (CDPT), including @entity3329 ( @entity3329 ), have validated the efficacy of these interventions for the initial reduction of @entity4 and long-term maintenance of limb volume in @entity4269 . However, CDPT demands substantial time and effort from @entity1 to maintain these benefits; the treatments are not always well-accepted, and @entity1 may suffer from a deterioration in quality-of-life or a time-dependent loss of initial treatment benefits. A new device designed for home use by the @entity1 , the Flexitouch, has been developed to mechanically simulate @entity3329 . We have undertaken a prospective, randomized, crossover study of the efficacy of the Flexitouch, when compared to massage, in the self-administered maintenance therapy of @entity4269 . METHODS: A prospective, randomized, crossover study of maintenance therapy was performed in 10 @entity1 with @entity0 -associated @entity4269 of the arm. Each observation phase included self-administered treatment with the Flexitouch or massage, 1 hour daily for 14 days, respectively, followed by crossover to the alternate treatment phase. Each treatment phase was preceded by a 1 week treatment washout, with use of garment only. The sequence of treatment was randomly assigned. The potential impact of treatment modality on quality of life was assessed with serial administration of the SF-36. RESULTS: Statistical analysis disclosed that the order of treatment had no outcome influence, permitting 10 comparisons within each treatment group. Post-treatment arm volume reduced significantly after the Flexitouch, but not after self-administered massage. The @entity1 ' mean weight decreased significantly with Flexitouch use, but not with massage. The Flexitouch device was apparently well-tolerated and accepted by @entity1 . Serial SF-36 administration showed no deterioration in physical or psychosocial scores compared to baseline measurements; there were no statistical differences in scores when the two treatment modalities were compared. CONCLUSION: This short-term prospective evaluation of the Flexitouch suggests that the device may provide better maintenance @entity4 control than self-adiminstered massage in @entity0 -associated @entity4269 . The apparent ease of use and reliability of response to the device suggest that further broad-scale testing is warranted.

A pilot, prospective evaluation of a novel alternative for maintenance therapy of @entity0 -associated XXXX [ISRCTN76522412].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity3329 :: ('MESH:D008206', 'Disease') :: ['MLD', 'manual lymphatic drainage'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['unilateral breast cancer', 'breast cancer'] @entity4 :: ('MESH:D004487', 'Disease') :: ['edema'] @entity4269 :: ('MESH:D008209', 'Disease') :: ['lymphedema']
@entity4269 :: (MESH:D008209,Disease) :: ['lymphedema']
