Effects of Hydrotherapy on Unilateral Lower Extremity Lymphedema

Summary

Lymphedema is a chronic condition that negatively affects patients' quality of life and lower extremity functions, causing swelling and a feeling of heaviness in the extremity, as well as posing an economic burden. The gold standard in lymphedema treatment is complex decongestive therapy.Manual lymphatic drainage, skin care, the use of compression garments, and home exercise programs play an important role. Exercise therapies lead to a reduction in volume and an improvement in functionality and quality of life in patients with lymphedema. However, studies on this subject have mostly focused on upper extremity lymphedema. This study aims to compare the effects of a home exercise program and hydrotherapy combined with a home exercise program on quality of life, lower extremity functionality, exercise capacity, and edema severity in patients with unilateral lower extremity lymphedema

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with primary or secondary unilateral lower extremity lymphedema diagnosis
* Patients who have received at least 2 weeks of complex decongestive therapy in the past
* Patients who are cooperative with hydrotherapy treatments
* Patients who are willing to participate in the treatment
* Patients aged 18-75

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who are unable to perform the evaluation parameters
* Patients with serious systemic diseases that may prevent exercise
* Patients who have had an injury and/or surgery in the last 6 months
* Conditions where hydrotherapy is contraindicated (severe fear of water, behavioral problems, shortness of breath at rest, incontinence, known chlorine allergy, open wound, acute systemic illness, epilepsy, tracheostomy, permanent drain, immunodeficiency)
* Patients with an active infection anywhere in the body
* Patients who have undergone sentinel lymph node biopsy
* Patients with active metastatic disease

Conditions3

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