This study investigated the effects of relaxation techniques on the volume of edema, anxiety, and depression in women receiving complete decongestive therapy (CDT) for lymphedema.
This quasi-experimental clinical trial was conducted on 31 women in two groups of control (n = 16) and intervention (n = 15). Women were only recruited if they had postmastectomy lymphedema (edema volume > 200 cc) and scored eight or higher on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Despite the absence of a randomization technique in this single-center study, the two groups had no significant differences in age, body mass index, duration of edema, and number of removed and involved lymph nodes.Study is single blind because evaluator and analyzer don’t know to each person in which group.
The first phase of treatment in the control group included 60-minute sessions of CDT, six days a week, for three weeks. Each session consisted of manual lymphatic drainage, multilayer compression bandaging, rehabilitation exercises, and skin and nail care. During the second phase, the same methods were continued and the patients were asked to wear arm-sleeves every day.
The intervention group was then treated. They received 30 minutes of progressive muscle relaxation before each CDT session. They were also orally instructed to perform muscle relaxation, which resulted in the relaxation of 16 large skeletal muscle groups.
A person (not involved in this study) measured the volume of edema, depression, and anxiety at the beginning of the study, after the first phase (third week), and after the follow-up period (ninth week).