Changes in Arm Tissue Composition with Slowly-Progressive Weight-Lifting among Women with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

摘要

BACKGROUNDStudies in breast cancer-related lymphedema (BRCL) have exclusively examined total arm volume, but not the specific tissue composition that contribute to total volume. We evaluated baseline differences in arm tissue composition (fat mass, lean mass, bone mineral content [BMC] and bone mineral density [BMD]) between the affected and unaffected arms in women with BRCL. We compared changes in arm tissue composition and self-reported lymphedema symptoms after one-year of weight-lifting vs. control.