Scars developed from the surgical treatment of breast cancer can lead to adverse effects such as fibrosis and adhesions within the connective tissue. Manual therapy such as myofascial release (MFR) has been used with an intention to reduce fascial adhesions. A study from Valencia, Spain investigated the clinical impact of MFR treatment on female survivors of breast cancer.
The study involved 24 women with breast cancer, where 13 received myofascial release treatment and 11 received a placebo manual lymphatic drainage treatment. Both interventions were administered over a period of four weeks.
Pain significantly decreased immediately after myofascial release treatment, and this improvement persisted one month after treatment. No effects on pain were observed in the placebo group.
Regarding range of motion of the ipsilateral shoulder joint, myofascial release therapy significantly improved all ranges of motion, except internal rotation. These improvements were maintained in the follow-up measurement. Placebo therapy also showed a significant positive effect on range of motion; this increase in range of motion also endured after treatment for extension and adduction, but not for internal rotation.
Regarding functionality, both myofascial release and placebo therapies achieved the established level of significance, thus showing an increase in functionality, but only the MFR sustained the improvement after one month.
General Quality of Life, assessed with a questionnaire, and its physical well-being dimension significantly improved after myofascial release treatment. Meanwhile the emotional dimension and the breast cancer subscale improved with placebo treatment.
The authors concluded that myofascial release treatment shows physical benefits (i.e., perceived pain, overall shoulder movement, and functionality) in women after breast cancer surgery. However, the placebo lymphatic drainage treatment decreased depression.
