Prehabilitation in Breast Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Shoulder Function, Pain, Quality of Life and Lymphedema Development
Prehabilitation in Breast Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Shoulder Function, Pain, Quality of Life and Lymphedema Development
This prospective, randomized, assessor-blinded, parallel-group clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of a home-based upper extremity-focused prehabilitation program in women undergoing breast cancer surgery. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either prehabilitation or usual care. Primary outcomes include shoulder range of motion and upper extremity function (DASH score). Secondary outcomes include grip strength, pain, fatigue, disability, anxiety/depression, and lymphedema incidence up to 2 years postoperatively.
Breast cancer surgery is associated with postoperative morbidity including shoulder dysfunction, pain, fatigue, and lymphedema. Prehabilitation aims to optimize functional capacity before surgery and may reduce postoperative complications.
This single-center randomized controlled trial will enroll 54 women with stage I-III invasive breast cancer scheduled for mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. Participants will be randomized to:
Primary endpoints are shoulder range of motion (goniometric measurement) and DASH score changes across multiple time points. Participants will be followed for up to 24 months for lymphedema development.
Inclusion Criteria:
Women aged 18-80
Stage I-III invasive breast cancer
Scheduled for surgery
≥3 weeks before surgery
No neoadjuvant therapy
Exclusion Criteria:
Exercise contraindication
Active shoulder pathology
Severe cardiopulmonary disease
Planned neoadjuvant therapy
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