MUSCLE STRENGTH EXERCISES AFTER BREAST CANCER SURGERY: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Objectives: To evaluate the recovery of muscle strength in patients in the postoperative period of breast cancer for radical and conservative surgery and in different groups of rehabilitation. Method: Randomized clinical trial, 4 groups: MF (mastectomy and strengthening); MO (mastectomy and guidance); QF (quadrantectomy and strengthening); QO (quandrantectomy and guidance). Patients were excluded whit previous surgeries for breast or orthopedic injuries and neurological disorders. All groups received postoperative orientation, commonly performed in the sector. The MF and QF groups, in addition to the guidelines, made 8 weekly physical therapy sessions with resistance exercises for the upper limbs, which began on the 30th day after surgery (PO30) until the 90th day (PO90). The wheight started with 0.5 kg for all patients and this increase was gradual, according to the individual capacity; each patient should hold two sessions with the same wheight with no complaint of pain or heaviness in the arm before their increase. Muscle strength was assessed by dynamometer Hand Held 1163 manual (Lafayette Instrument), the movements of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction and internal and external rotation shoulder, preoperatively, PO30, 60 days after surgery (PO60) and PO90. Results: The study included 121 patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the preoperative period, PO30 and PO60. In PO90, the extension, adduction, abduction and internal rotation muscle strength showed difference between MO and QF groups, with MO values lower than the preoperative period and the QF fully recovered. Overall, although not statistically significant, the QF force values returned in PO60 and MF and QO recovered in PO90. Conclusion: Muscle strengthening of the upper limbs in breast postoperative period is crucial for the recovery of strength after 3 months postoperatively in radical surgery and accelerates the return of this function for two months in partial surgery.