Effect of Nursing Rehabilitation with /without Mirror Therapy on Upper Limb Selected Outcomes among Women Post Mastectomy

Authors

1 B.Sc. Nursing Science

2 professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt.

3 Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt.

4 Assistant Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt.

10.21608/menj.2025.448002

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is considered among the most frequently reported cancer types worldwide. Treatments of breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy (RT), endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. One of the most common complications following breast cancer surgery is shoulder dysfunction. These complications include a restricted shoulder range of motion, stiffness, weakness and shoulder pain. Mirror therapy (MT) plays a positive role in women with shoulder dysfunction; including increasing the shoulder’s ROM, improving the shoulder’s functional score, and lowering the pain score .Purpose of the study: is to determine the effect of nursing rehabilitation with or without mirror therapy on upper limb selected outcomes among women post Mastectomy. Setting :Surgical department and outpatient clinic of Menoufia University Hospital in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt:. Subjects: A consecutive sample of 108women were selected and divided alternatively into three equal groups: 36woman for each group (study1 –study2- control). Tools: Three tools were used for data collection: Structured interview questionnaire, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (DASH) and Constant-Murley Score (CMS). Results: There was highly significant improvement of all subtotal knowledge scores in study group1 than and study group 2 and control group post nursing rehabilitation than pre-nursing rehabilitation .Subtotal mean score of all items of function and symptoms of the affected upper limb were highly significant improvement in study group  1 than study group 2 and control group at 4 and 8 weeks post mastectomy .Mean total disability score were highly significantly decreased in study1 than study 2 and control group at 4 and 8 weeks post mastectomy. Pain intensity level of the affected shoulder was highly significantly decreased in study group1 than study 2 and control group at 4 and 8 weeks post mastectomy and  mean total shoulder function score was highly significantly increased in study group1 than study 2 and control group at 4 and 8 weeks post mastectomy.Conclusions: Exercise- based mirror therapy was effective in improving shoulder function among women post mastectomy. Recommendations: Supervised health education should be carried out for all women post mastectomy about nursing rehabilitation to improve their shoulder function post mastectomy and a colored illustrative booklet about mastectomy, upper limb complications and range of motion exercises should be available and distributed to all women post mastectomy.

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