Clinical trial · Interventional
Myofascial Massage for Pain and Immobility Following Breast Cancer Surgery
Pain and Immobility After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Community-Based Randomized Controlled Trial of Myofascial Massage Treatment
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
About 25-50% of women who undergo breast cancer surgery develop persistent chest wall pain and shoulder mobility limitations following surgery. The pain and mobility limitations adversely affect quality of life, sleep, and body image. Unfortunately, current treatments for pain and mobility limitations have variable efficacy. Based on a review of relevant pre-, intra-, and post-operative factors, investigators reasoned that myofascial massage may address contributors to pain and mobility limitations following breast cancer surgery. Investigators propose a randomized controlled trial looking at myofascial massage compared to a light touch group to look at the effects on pain and immobility following breast cancer surgery.
Conditions
Conditions (4)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer | Malignant Breast Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT | 0.92 |
| Mastectomy; Lymphedema | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Mobility Limitation | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Pain, Shoulder | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Touch | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Myofascial Massage | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Myofascial Massage
- description
- Participants randomized to this group will receive 30 minutes of myofascial massage to their affected breast, chest, and shoulder areas twice a week for 2 months. Therapists will follow a detailed 8 week protocol developed with a massage therapy consultant and the study team.
- interventionNames
- Other: Myofascial Massage
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Light Touch
- description
- Participants randomized to this group will receive 30 minutes of light touch to their affected breast, chest, and shoulder areas twice a week for 2 months.
- interventionNames
- Other: Light Touch
Primary outcomes (2)
- measure
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- Female
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years or older * Female * Undergone breast cancer surgery 3-18 months ago * Completed all treatment for breast cancer within the last 18 months (i.e. radiation, IV chemotherapy, surgery) * Not expected to have any additional surgery (i.e. planning for reconstruction) * Self reported chronic pain or immobility since surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Under age 18 * Not female * Surgery \< 3 months ago * End all cancer treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) \> 18 months ago * Presence of lymphedema * Open wounds or sores * Currently on anticoagulants * Currently receiving massage treatments
References
Publications (9)
- BACKGROUNDAndersen KG, Kehlet H. Persistent pain after breast cancer treatment: a critical review of risk factors and strategies for prevention. J Pain. 2011 Jul;12(7):725-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2010.12.005. Epub 2011 Mar 24. PMID 21435953
- BACKGROUNDEwertz M, Jensen AB. Late effects of breast cancer treatment and potentials for rehabilitation. Acta Oncol. 2011 Feb;50(2):187-93. doi: 10.3109/0284186X.2010.533190. PMID 21231780
- BACKGROUNDHayes SC, Johansson K, Stout NL, Prosnitz R, Armer JM, Gabram S, Schmitz KH. Upper-body morbidity after breast cancer: incidence and evidence for evaluation, prevention, and management within a prospective surveillance model of care. Cancer. 2012 Apr 15;118(8 Suppl):2237-49. doi: 10.1002/cncr.27467. PMID 22488698
- BACKGROUNDHidding JT, Beurskens CH, van der Wees PJ, van Laarhoven HW, Nijhuis-van der Sanden MW. Treatment related impairments in arm and shoulder in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2014 May 9;9(5):e96748. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096748. eCollection 2014. PMID 24816774
- BACKGROUNDThomas-Maclean RL, Hack T, Kwan W, Towers A, Miedema B, Tilley A. Arm morbidity and disability after breast cancer: new directions for care. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2008 Jan;35(1):65-71. doi: 10.1188/08.ONF.65-71. PMID 18192154
- BACKGROUNDJohansen S, Fossa K, Nesvold IL, Malinen E, Fossa SD. Arm and shoulder morbidity following surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer. Acta Oncol. 2014 Apr;53(4):521-9. doi: 10.3109/0284186X.2014.880512. Epub 2014 Feb 5. PMID 24495044
- BACKGROUNDMeretoja TJ, Leidenius MHK, Tasmuth T, Sipila R, Kalso E. Pain at 12 months after surgery for breast cancer. JAMA. 2014 Jan 1;311(1):90-92. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.278795. No abstract available.