Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41969945›Full record

ArticleGland surgery2026

The impact of early exercise intervention on the incidence and severity of lymphedema following axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer.

Miaowei Wang, Xia Zhang, Guo Li, Ao Wang, Yuqi Wu, Dae-Keun Jeong

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gland surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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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

6 authors.

Miaowei WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Xia ZhangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Guo LiDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Ao WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Yuqi WuDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Dae-Keun JeongDepartment of Physical Therapy, Sehan University, Yeongam-gun, Republic of Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic complication of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) that impairs mobility and quality of life (QoL). This study evaluated the impact of early systematic exercise on BCRL incidence, severity, and functional recovery. Methods: A retrospective cohort study analyzed 136 patients who underwent ALND between 2020 and 2024. The intervention group (n=70) participated in a therapist-guided, phased exercise program initiated within two weeks post-surgery. The control group (n=66) received conventional health education. The primary outcome was BCRL incidence within 12 months (defined as ≥10% or ≥200 mL volume increase). Secondary outcomes included shoulder range of motion (ROM), [Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score] scores, pain [Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score], and QoL [European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 and breast cancer module (EORTC QLQ-C30/BR23)]. Results: The overall BCRL incidence was 25.0%. The intervention group showed a significantly lower incidence compared to controls (17.1% Conclusions: Early, systematic exercise intervention after ALND is a safe and effective strategy to reduce BCRL risk and severity. It significantly enhances physical function and QoL, particularly in high-risk populations. These findings support integrating individualized exercise programs into routine postoperative rehabilitation pathways.

Indexed as

axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)Breast cancerearly exercise interventionlymphedemaupper limb functional recovery

Identifiers

PMID41969945
PMCPMC13062813

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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.