Treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic review

Introduction Low-level lasers have been suggested as a complement to lymphedema treatment. However, this therapy’s mechanism of action and its effects are poorly understood up to the present. Objective To conduct a systematic literature review to analyze the effects of low-level laser in the treatme...

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Main Authors: Silvia Elizate Monteiro, Lilian Valim Resende, Mônica Faria Felicíssimo, Angélica Rodrigues de Araújo, Camila Teixeira Vaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editora Champagnat
Series:Fisioterapia em Movimento
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-51502014000400663&lng=en&tlng=en
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spelling doaj-81736873b05e4fcb893e46ae30227a272020-11-25T02:09:33ZengEditora Champagnat Fisioterapia em Movimento1980-591827466367410.1590/0103-5150.027.004.AR01S0103-51502014000400663Treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic reviewSilvia Elizate MonteiroLilian Valim ResendeMônica Faria FelicíssimoAngélica Rodrigues de AraújoCamila Teixeira VazIntroduction Low-level lasers have been suggested as a complement to lymphedema treatment. However, this therapy’s mechanism of action and its effects are poorly understood up to the present. Objective To conduct a systematic literature review to analyze the effects of low-level laser in the treatment of upper-limb lymphedema in women submitted to breast cancer surgery. Material and methods Randomized clinical trials were included, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, from January 1990 to July 2013. The article search was carried out in the Pubmed, Lilacs and PEDro electronic databases, with the following descriptors:Terapia a Laser de Baixa Intensidade, Linfedema, Câncer de Mama, Low-level laser therapy, Lymphedema, Breast Neoplasms and also through a manual search. Results and discussion Low-level lasers have been used for treating several acute and chronic conditions. However, its application for managing post breast cancer surgery is still recent, often based on empirical evidence. Treating upper-limb lymphedema with low-level laser presented positive results, with reduction in the circumference or volume of the affected limb. Conclusion More studies of high methodological quality are needed in order to better understand the mechanism of action of low-level laser on the lymphatic system and its effects on lymphedema treatement.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-51502014000400663&lng=en&tlng=enLow-level laser therapyLymphedemaBreast neoplasms
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Silvia Elizate Monteiro
Lilian Valim Resende
Mônica Faria Felicíssimo
Angélica Rodrigues de Araújo
Camila Teixeira Vaz
spellingShingle Silvia Elizate Monteiro
Lilian Valim Resende
Mônica Faria Felicíssimo
Angélica Rodrigues de Araújo
Camila Teixeira Vaz
Treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic review
Fisioterapia em Movimento
Low-level laser therapy
Lymphedema
Breast neoplasms
author_facet Silvia Elizate Monteiro
Lilian Valim Resende
Mônica Faria Felicíssimo
Angélica Rodrigues de Araújo
Camila Teixeira Vaz
author_sort Silvia Elizate Monteiro
title Treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic review
title_short Treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic review
title_full Treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic review
title_fullStr Treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic review
title_sort treatment of upper limb lymphedema with low-level laser: a systematic review
publisher Editora Champagnat
series Fisioterapia em Movimento
issn 1980-5918
description Introduction Low-level lasers have been suggested as a complement to lymphedema treatment. However, this therapy’s mechanism of action and its effects are poorly understood up to the present. Objective To conduct a systematic literature review to analyze the effects of low-level laser in the treatment of upper-limb lymphedema in women submitted to breast cancer surgery. Material and methods Randomized clinical trials were included, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, from January 1990 to July 2013. The article search was carried out in the Pubmed, Lilacs and PEDro electronic databases, with the following descriptors:Terapia a Laser de Baixa Intensidade, Linfedema, Câncer de Mama, Low-level laser therapy, Lymphedema, Breast Neoplasms and also through a manual search. Results and discussion Low-level lasers have been used for treating several acute and chronic conditions. However, its application for managing post breast cancer surgery is still recent, often based on empirical evidence. Treating upper-limb lymphedema with low-level laser presented positive results, with reduction in the circumference or volume of the affected limb. Conclusion More studies of high methodological quality are needed in order to better understand the mechanism of action of low-level laser on the lymphatic system and its effects on lymphedema treatement.
topic Low-level laser therapy
Lymphedema
Breast neoplasms
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-51502014000400663&lng=en&tlng=en
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