SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2023
Effectiveness of physical therapy in axillary web syndrome after breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Effects of Muscle Energy Techniques With and Without Manual Axial Distraction on Pain, Range of Motion Anf Functional Outcomes in Post-Mastectomy Patients With Axillary Web Syndrome
A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study on the Incidence, Risk Factors, and Postoperative Functional Outcomes of Axillary Web Syndrome After Breast Cancer Surgery
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Updated systematic review of the effects of exercise on understudied health outcomes in cancer survivors.Cancer medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Axillary Web Syndrome Beyond Breast Cancer: Expanding the Clinical Spectrum Through Illustrative Cases and Contemporary Evidence.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Letter to the editor: Protocol to improve quality of life, functionality, and exercise capacity in patients with axillary web syndrome after breast cancer: a randomized clinical trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Article
- Evaluation of The Spurgeon MethodInternational journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork · 2026Article
- Axillary Web Syndrome in Newly Diagnosed Individuals After Surgery for Breast Cancer: Baseline Results From the AMBER Cohort Study.Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2025Article
- Article
- Protocol to improve quality of life, functionality, and exercise capacity in patients with axillary web syndrome after breast cancer: a randomized clinical trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Article
- The impact of combined Gua Sha and myofascial release techniques on upper limb dysfunction in patients with breast cancer and axillary web syndrome: a prospective case series study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
- Commented on by
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe axillary web syndrome (AWS) is a surgical breast cancer sequel that limits the functionality of the patient and delays the protocol times of application of cancer treatments. This implies a long period of discomfort and limitations for the user.
objectiveTo investigate the different physiotherapy treatments for the AWS and how effective they are.
methodsA systematic review based on PRISMA protocol and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021281354) was conducted. The research was performed using PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PEDro, and Web of Science databases during January 2022 and March 2022. All randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials were included in this review.
resultsA total of 188 articles were identified, with 9 studies selected for the systematic review. These studies basically propose treatments based on exercises and stretching, manual therapy, and the combination of manual therapy and exercises.
conclusionsExercise and stretching are the most effective therapies within the field of physiotherapy for the rehabilitation of axillary web syndrome. They restore range of motion faster, reduce pain, improve quality of life, and reduce disabilities. Manual therapy, scar massage, and myofascial release could help improve outcomes but with worse results. The meta-analysis conclusion is that pain is the only outcome with a significant reduction after the application of physiotherapy treatments - 0.82 [- 1.67; 0.03]. This conclusion is drawn from the only three studies with small sample sizes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.