Massage for Post Breast Surgery

Post-operative breast surgery patients may face an array of complications. Breast surgery can
include biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy or some type of reconstruction (Drackley 2012).
Chronic pain and lack of mobility in the chest and/or shoulder are two of the more common and
persistent issues in this population, however it is still unclear as to how many actually
suffer from these (Wallace 1996). Current treatment for each of these usually includes
prescribed narcotic pain medication and/or some physical therapy, the first being a treatment
with many side effects, the latter being quite expensive. Global and integrated massage
techniques have been used as a way of decreasing stress, anxiety, and some self-reported
pain, however a targeted massage technique geared towards the breast/chest/shoulder region
has not been rigorously evaluated (Drackley 2012). Myofascial massage has been shown to be an
effective treatment for other post-surgical patients in reducing pain and increasing
mobility, but efficacy has yet to be shown specifically in post-breast surgery patients
(FitzGerald 2009). If proven effective, myofascial massage could be used as an inexpensive
and non-invasive addition to current pain and mobility treatment (Cassileth 2004).

Specific Aims

Aim A.

Determine the effectiveness of myofascial massage specific to the breast/chest/shoulder area
in reducing self-reported pain among patients who have undergone a mastectomy or other breast
surgery.

Aim B.

Determine the effectiveness of myofascial massage specific to the breast/chest/shoulder area
in increasing self-reported mobility in the affected shoulder among patients who have
undergone a mastectomy or other breast surgery.

Hypothesis: Compared to control patients receiving general full body massage, myofascial
massage specific to the breast/chest/shoulder area reduces pain and increases mobility in
patients who have undergone breast surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age range 21-79 years of age

- Female

- Breast and/or axillary surgery

- 2-18 months post-operative

- Meets minimum pain and/or lack of mobility threshold as determined by survey

- Ability to give informed consent

- Ability to complete adherence task

- Benign or malignant forms of disease

Exclusion Criteria:

- History of blood clots

- Mentally incompetent

- Non-English speaking

- Infected sites or open wounds

- Currently lactating

- Currently receiving massage therapy for breast surgery

- Currently taking anticoagulants including:

Cilostazol Clopidogrel Ticlopidine Prasugrel Ticagrelor Dipyridamole Warfarin Dabigatran
Rivaroxaban Apixaban Abciximab Eptifibatide Tirofiban Dalteparin Enoxaparin Fondaparinux
Heparin Tinzaparin Argatroban Bivalirudin Lepirudin