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Manual Lymphatic Drainage With Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises in Post Radical Mastectomy

NCT07676045 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 58

Last updated 2026-06-30

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Lymphedema is a persistent and chronic swelling condition that commonly develops after breast cancer surgeries involving axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). This condition causes pain, heaviness, and swelling in the upper limb, which severely limits shoulder mobility and functional performance in daily life tasks.

While manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is widely utilized to stimulate lymphatic flow and reduce tissue swelling, the added therapeutic benefit of combining it with deep breathing exercises remains less evaluated. This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate whether combining diaphragmatic breathing exercises with manual lymphatic drainage is more effective than manual lymphatic drainage alone.

The main goals of this study are to determine if this combined intervention provides greater reductions in arm circumference and subjective pain levels while significantly improving upper extremity range of motion and overall functional ability in female patients recovering from a radical mastectomy.

Conditions

  • Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

A specialized manual therapy technique involving gentle, slow, rhythmic skin-stretching strokes directed toward functioning, unaffected proximal lymph nodes to stimulate lymphatic flow and reduce upper extremity swelling. Administered for 25 to 30 minutes per session, 3 times a week for 4 weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises

Structured deep breathing exercises performed in a comfortable, semi-reclined position. Participants practice controlled inhalation through the nose for 4 seconds (allowing the abdomen to expand) followed by a controlled exhalation phase and a 4-second pause before the next breath cycle. Administered for 2 minutes immediately following Manual Lymphatic Drainage, 3 times a week for a total duration of 4 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Lahore

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-04-10
Primary Completion
2026-10-10
Completion
2026-10-10

Countries

  • Pakistan

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07676045 on ClinicalTrials.gov