Cardio-Respiratory, Functional and Antalgic Effects of the Integrated Thermal Care Protocol After Breast Cancer Surgery
Background: In the cardio-respiratory rehabilitation field, thermal medicine represents an interesting complementary therapy approach. It can aid in complex medical contexts characterized by cardio-respiratory deficiency, functional limitation, and pain determined by the invasiveness of pharmacologi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/3/374 |
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| Summary: | Background: In the cardio-respiratory rehabilitation field, thermal medicine represents an interesting complementary therapy approach. It can aid in complex medical contexts characterized by cardio-respiratory deficiency, functional limitation, and pain determined by the invasiveness of pharmacological and surgical treatments in combination with limited post-surgical physical activity. Methods: We investigated the evolution of cardio-respiratory and functional performances following the application of the Integrated Thermal Care (ITC) protocol in 11 mastectomized/quadrantectomized women (mean age of 54 years). The ITC protocol consisted of hydroponic treatments, steam inhalations treatment, hydrokinesitherapy, and manual treatments. Patients were assessed before and after a cycle of 1 h long treatment sessions, which were performed 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The outcomes were measured through the following scales and tests: Piper Fatigue Scale (PIPER), 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT), Five Times Sit-to-Stand (5STS), Range of Arm Motion (ROM), Disability of the Arm–Shoulder–Hand Scale (DASH), and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Results: We found appreciable improvements in cardio-respiratory efficiency and in pain perception exemplified by a reduction of PIPER, 5STS, DASH, and NPRS values together with an increase in 6MWT and ROM values. Conclusions: We conclude that ITC is a promising rehabilitative tool to enhance cardio-respiratory and functional performance and reduce pain after mastectomy/quadrantectomy. |
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| ISSN: | 2075-1729 |