The Role of Physical Exercise in Lymphedema Management and Quality of Life in Post-Mastectomy Patients

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between lymphedema and quality of life in post-mastectomy patients who followed a supervised exercise program. The study included 30 post-mastectomy patients with a clinical diagnosis of stage II lymphedema. Participants underwent a supervised exercise program lasting 16 weeks, focusing on drainage stimulation. Quality of life was assessed with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 before and after the intervention. Following the exercise program, the total score of the functional and symptom items improved significantly and the global health status score increased by 21.7 points on a 0–100 scale. This study highlights that structured exercise interventions are associated with a clinically relevant improvement in patient-reported quality of life, although controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.