The role of digital rehabilitation therapy in enhancing upper limb function recovery following surgery in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE

The presence of upper limb dysfunction is a common complication following surgical interventions for breast cancer patients. This study aims to investigate the impact of digital rehabilitation therapy on the recovery of upper limb function in breast cancer patients after surgery.

METHODS

This research enrolled 52 breast cancer patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy at the Affiliated Xinhua Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between September 2022 and October 2023. A comparative analysis was conducted between the control group and the experimental group regarding their upper limb movements (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction), as well as their quality of life indicators.

RESULTS

Following rehabilitation training, the extent of improvement in flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction of the affected upper limbs in the experimental group was significantly higher than that observed in the control group (p < 0.05). Notably, after the same 6-week period, the range of motion in flexion and abduction of the affected limbs in the experimental group did not significantly differ from that of their contralateral limbs (p > 0.05). According to scores on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, the experimental group also showed significant improvements in role functioning, emotional functioning, and social functioning compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The application of digital rehabilitation therapy in the recovery process of upper limb function among breast cancer patients post-surgery has proven efficacious in enhancing objective recovery of shoulder range of motion and improving several domains of quality of life, although no significant between-group differences were observed in patient-reported functional outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), ChiCTR2500107529, registered on August 13, 2025.