Effects of resistance exercise on reducing the risk of lower-limb lymphedema after gynecological cancer surgery.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of resistance and non-resistance exercises on limb circumference, self-management of lymphedema, and quality of life among patients after gynecological cancer surgery.

Methods: A randomized controlled design enrolled 60 patients with gynecological cancer in either the elastic-band resistance or non-resistance exercise groups after surgery. Outcomes were evaluated at three-time points: T0 (baseline, before interventions), T1 (one week after the completion of interventions), and T2 (three months after the interventions).

Results: No group effect over time was observed for lymphedema, lymphedema self-management, and quality of life (QoL). However, both exercise groups exhibited significant improvements in physical function ( ​= ​0.79), role function ( ​= ​0.63), and global health status ( ​= ​1.35) related to cancer quality of life from T0 to T1 and from T0 to T2 ( ​= ​0.69, 0.65, and 1.43; respectively). No significant differences were observed in the lymphedema-related quality of life or limb circumference between the two groups. However, significant time effects were observed for lymphedema self-management from T0 to T1 ( ​= ​1.11) and T0 to T2 ( ​= ​1.09).

Conclusions: Compared to non-resistance exercise, resistance exercise was not different in reducing the risk of lower limb lymphedema or improving quality of life within the initial three months following gynecological cancer surgery. Both types of exercise can be seamlessly integrated into a woman's daily activities to reduce the risk of lower limb lymphedema after surgery. Lower limb resistance exercises do not exacerbate the adverse effects of lymphedema.

Trial Registration: Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05666947).