Maintenance treatment of lymphedema

Maintenance treatment of LE

Project description

Comparison of two regimens of maintenance treatment for lymphoedema after the intensive phase of Combined Physical Therapy

In Flanders, different regimens concerning the maintenance treatment of upper and lower limb lymphoedema are applied after the intensive phase of Combined Physical Therapy. The effectiveness of the maintenance phase of Combined Physical Therapy has never been investigated in a randomised controlled trial. Hence, the additional effect of a gradual decrease of sessions of physical therapy to self-management, on the maintenance of the oedema reduction has never been investigated.

The main objective of our proposed project is to compare two regimens of maintenance treatment for lymphoedema after the intensive phase of Combined Physical Therapy. The intervention group receives information to maintain the obtained reduction (and so, to apply self-management) and receives physical therapy sessions, consisting of manual lymph drainage and exercise therapy. The control group only receives information.

A secondary objective of our proposed project is to compare the costs of the maintenance phase of Combined Physical Therapy for the National Health Service between the intervention and control groups. Another secondary objective is to investigate predictive factors for the response of lymphoedema to the intensive and maintenance phase of Combined Physical Therapy.

> CarEdOn primary researchers: Prof. Nele Devoogdt

> Research partners: Em. Prof. Marijke Van Kampen, dpt of rehabilitation sciences, KU Leuven (Belgium)

> Funding: Klinische Onderzoeksraad of UZ Leuven

> Keywords: primary and secondary edema, exercise therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, educational interventions, edema, upper limb function

> Contact: nele.devoogt@kuleuven.be  

Status
Finished
Starting date
01/10/2012
Status reference