Effectiveness of myofascial techniques for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer-related dysfunctions of the upper limb: randomised controlled trial.

Breast cancer patients may receive different radical treatments, such as breast surgery, axillary lymph node dissections and radiotherapy of the breast or thorax. These treatments have a profound effect on the deep myofascial level of the shoulder, thorax and axilla and they create a vicious circle of adhesions, lack of mobility and pain in muscles, fasciaeand joints around the shoulder. The effectiveness of myofascial techniques on the prevention and treatment of these dysfunctions of the upper limb related to the treatment of breast cancer have never been investigated. Therefore, one  randomised controlled trial will investigate the preventive effect of myofascial techniques, additional to the traditional physical therapy, on dysfunctions of the upper limb, applied onbreast cancer patients with an axillary lymph node dissection. Another randomised controlled trial will investigate the treatment effect of myofascial techniques applied on breast cancer patients with chronic pain of the upper limb. The third aim is to investigate the patient-related, breast cancer- related and treatment- related factors for the change of shoulder dysfunctions after breast cancer treatment.