Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping in Patients With Chronic Breast and/​or Truncal Oedema After Treatment for Breast Cancer

Summary

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Western countries. Advances in detection and treatment have improved survival rates, but many patients suffer from chronic side effects like breast oedema, a painful swelling often linked to breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy. With an incidence of up to 90% and symptoms persisting in half of patients even six months post-treatment, breast oedema significantly impacts quality of life. Current therapies are often expensive, time-intensive, or lack sufficient evidence, underscoring the need for innovative, cost-effective solutions. Kinesio tape (KT), widely used for sports injuries, shows promise in reducing swelling and improving quality of life in arm lymphoedema, making it a potential complementary treatment for breast oedema.

The KiTA-Lymph trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of KT as an adjunct to standard decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT) in women with persistent breast and/or truncal oedema persisting for over six months following breast cancer treatment.

This multicenter, randomized controlled trial will recruit 128 participants, randomly assigning them to a control group (DLT alone) or an intervention group (DLT plus KT). Standard DLT includes education, skin care, exercise, and compression therapy. During a one-month intervention phase, patients will attend two 45-minute physiotherapy sessions per week. In the intervention group, KT will be applied twice per week for three days at a time during this phase. Afterward, participants will enter a six-month follow-up period, during which they will be encouraged to continue wearing the compression bra use and self-apply KT if desired.

Primary outcome includes symptom severity using the Breast Edema Questionnaire (BrEQ). Secondary outcomes include pain, swelling, and quality of life, assessed via the BrEQ, PWC, VAS, EORTC QLQ-BR23, and EQ-5D-5L tools. Assessments will occur at baseline, one month after intervention initiation, and three and six months post end of intervention.

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