Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32803533›Full record

SynthesisJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2021

Manual lymphatic drainage treatment for lymphedema: a systematic review of the literature.

Belinda Thompson, Katrina Gaitatzis, Xanne Janse de Jonge, Robbie Blackwell, Louise A Koelmeyer

3 registry-linked trialsAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 61 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
61citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
5.0field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06697158 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Investigation of the Effects of Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy on Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

TypeinterventionalSponsorAbant Izzet Baysal UniversityRan2024 to 2027Enrolled31ConditionsBreast Cancer Related LymphedemaArmsPhysiotherapy and rehabilitation
NCT07257679 phase4recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

The Effects of 'Gentle Touch' in the Management of Lymphedema in Women Treated for Breast Cancer: A Preliminary Single-blind, Parallel-group Randomized Controlled Trial.

TypeinterventionalSponsorI.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa LuciaRan2025 to 2027Enrolled36ConditionsLymphedema, Breast CancerArmsGentle Touch (GT) Lymphatic Drainage (ANDOS technique), Passive Mobilization and Active-Assisted Exercises for the Upper Limb
NCT07673939 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Core-Focused Exercise Training and Kinesiology Taping Combined With Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy on Posture, Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

TypeinterventionalSponsorHacettepe UniversityRan2026 to 2027Enrolled46ConditionsBreast Cancer Related LymphedemaArmsComplex Decongestive Therapy, Trunk Focused exercises, Kinesiology taping, Lower extremity exercises, Placebo taping
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

61 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 132 citations in OpenAlex.

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  5. Biomaterials in the clinical treatment of lymphedema-a systematic review.Journal of vascular surgery. Venous and lymphatic disorders · 2024
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1 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Belinda ThompsonAustralian Lymphoedema Education, Research & Treatment (ALERT) Program, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 1, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia. belinda.thompson@mq.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-7427-9986
Katrina GaitatzisAustralian Lymphoedema Education, Research & Treatment (ALERT) Program, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 1, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
Xanne Janse de JongeSchool of Environmental & Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia.
Robbie BlackwellAustralian Lymphoedema Education, Research & Treatment (ALERT) Program, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 1, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
Louise A KoelmeyerAustralian Lymphoedema Education, Research & Treatment (ALERT) Program, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 1, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
Macquarie University · AUHunter Water · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeManual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage is widely accepted as a conservative treatment for lymphedema. This systematic review aims to examine the methodologies used in recent research and evaluate the effectiveness of MLD for those at-risk of or living with lymphedema.

methodsThe electronic databases Embase, PubMed, CINAHL Complete and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched using relevant terms. Studies comparing MLD with another intervention or control in patients at-risk of or with lymphedema were included. Studies were critically appraised with the PEDro scale.

resultsSeventeen studies with a total of 867 female and two male participants were included. Only studies examining breast cancer-related lymphedema were identified. Some studies reported positive effects of MLD on volume reduction, quality of life and symptom-related outcomes compared with other treatments, while other studies reported no additional benefit of MLD as a component of complex decongestive therapy. In patients at-risk, MLD was reported to reduce incidence of lymphedema in some studies, while others reported no such benefits.

conclusionsThe reviewed articles reported conflicting findings and were often limited by methodological issues. This review highlights the need for further experimental studies on the effectiveness of MLD in lymphedema. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: There is some evidence that MLD in early stages following breast cancer surgery may help prevent progression to clinical lymphedema. MLD may also provide additional benefits in volume reduction for mild lymphedema. However, in moderate to severe lymphedema, MLD may not provide additional benefit when combined with complex decongestive therapy.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsLymphedemaFemaleHumansMaleManual Lymphatic DrainageMastectomyQuality of LifeBreast cancerLymphatic therapyLymphedemaManual lymphatic drainage

Identifiers

PMID32803533
OpenAlexW3049257183

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.