A randomized controlled trial: Effects of compression therapy combined with exercise on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of compression therapy combined with exercise for cancer patients (EXCAP) in patients with peripheral neuropathy caused by breast cancer chemotherapy.

METHODS

Overall, 108 patients with peripheral neuropathy after chemotherapy for breast cancer were randomly divided into the control group (routine nursing), experimental group 1 (compression therapy), and experimental group 2 (compression therapy and EXCAP). The National Institute of Cancer Drug Toxicity Rating Scale and the Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool were assessed and compared between groups.

RESULTS

The incidence of grade 0 peripheral neuropathy in both experimental groups was higher than that in controls (P < 0.001), and the incidence in group 2 was higher than that in group 1 (P < 0.001). The incidence of grade 2 disease in both experimental groups was lower than that in controls (P < 0.001). The rate of symptoms in both experimental groups after the intervention were lower than that in the control group (P < 0.001), and those in experimental group 2 were lower than those in experimental group 1 (P < 0.001). Scores regarding activities of daily living in the experimental groups were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.001), and lower in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Compression therapy and EXCAP can effectively reduce the incidence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients undergoing breast cancer chemotherapy. They can both positively impact patients' daily lives and symptom experiences; however, they are more effective when combined.