Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36057658›Full record

Trial reportBMC musculoskeletal disorders2022

The effect of the combined use of complex decongestive therapy with electrotherapy modalities for the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized clinical trial.

Mahboobeh Hemmati, Zahra Rojhani-Shirazi, Zeinab Sadat Zakeri, Majid Akrami, Nasrin Salehi Dehno

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 15% 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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. The healing power of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: a systematic review on its effects after breast surgery.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Trial
  8. Article
  9. Review
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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 1 institution in 1 country.

Mahboobeh HemmatiStudent Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Zahra Rojhani-ShiraziPhysical Therapy Department, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Abiverdi 1, Chamran Blvd, P.O. Box: 71345-1733, Shiraz, Iran. zahrarojhani@gmail.com.
Zeinab Sadat ZakeriShiraz Lymphedema Clinic, Breast Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
Majid AkramiShiraz Lymphedema Clinic, Breast Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
Nasrin Salehi DehnoRehabilitation Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences · IR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWe evaluated the effects of combined complex decongestive therapy (CDT) with electrotherapy modalities (ultrasound and faradic currents) in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), investigating upper extremity circumference, volume, pain, and functional disability.

methodsThirty-nine patients with unilateral BCRL were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 13) as the following: The control group received CDT, the ultrasound group received CDT and therapeutic ultrasound, and the faradic group received CDT and faradic current. All the participants underwent treatment for 10 sessions. The outcomes including volume, circumference (measured at five points), pain intensity, and functional disability of the affected upper extremity were evaluated at baseline and after the treatment.

resultsFollowing the treatment, an improvement was noted in lymphedema volume, pain, and functional disability in all the three groups and there was a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). However, changes in limb circumference at the end of the treatment were not significantly different among the three groups in any sites (P > 0.05).

conclusionThe combination of electrotherapy modalities, faradic current or ultrasound, with CDT can result in a greater reduction in lymphedema volume, pain, and functional disability in patients with BCRL.

trial registrationIRCT, IRCT201310292391N14, registered 03/01/2016.

Indexed as

Breast Cancer LymphedemaBreast NeoplasmsElectric Stimulation TherapyLymphedemaFemaleHumansPainQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeBreast cancerComplex decongestive therapyDisabilityElectrotherapyLymphedemaPain

Identifiers

PMID36057658
PMCPMC9440487
OpenAlexW4294384979

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.