• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.8-14
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• 2009

Purpose: to apply lymph massage to the patients that contracted lymphedema after mastectomy to resolve blood congestion, stimulate circulation, and control swelling long-term. Methods: The subjects include 20 female patients that were diagnosed with breast cancer histologically and contracted lymphedema within one to two years after mastectomy. They received lymph massage from March to August, 2008. Using a measuring tape(capable of measuring mm), the arm circumference was measured in both the sick and normal arm. Only the data from the sick arm were compared before and after the treatment. The measuring points were five; the back of the hand(a certain distance[about 10cm] was set between the end of the middle finger to the center of the palm), the wrist(the smallest section), the lower arm(at a certain distance[about 10cm] from the internal bending part of the elbow), the elbow(the bending part), and the upper arm(at a certain distance[about 10cm] from the internal bending part of the elbow). Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WINDOWS Version 12.0 program. Results: There was a reduction of lymphedema observed in all the points including 10cm in the upper arm, the elbow, 10cm in the lower arm, the wrist and the back of the hand after lymph massage, and the reduction had statistically significant differences(p<.05). Conclusion: Those results indicate that lymph massage has effects on the reduction of lymphedema in the early patients that contracted it after mastectomy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine whether aromatherapy massages with manual lymph drainage (MLD) are significantly more effective than sham massages with MLD in reducing edematous limb volume in lymphedema. This study was performed on 46 patients who had developed unilateral upper or lower lymphedema. Twenty-three patients served as the experimental group and were treated with complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) applications including aroma massages with MLD, multi layered compression bandages, remedial exercises and skin care. Twenty-three patients in the control group were treated with CDP applications including sham massages with MLD, bandages, exercises and skin care. Patients undergo a therapy program once a day; 5 days a week for 2 weeks. Percentage excess volume (PEV) and body mass index (BMI) were recorded before and after treatment. PEV and BMI were significantly decreased before and after treatment in the experimental as well as in the control groups (p<.05). However, the percentage excess volume and BMI were not significantly improved after treatment between the two groups (p>.05). This study there suggests that aroma massages is not effective in the edema of patients with lymphedema.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.1390-1400
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of EPMLM(educational program of manual lymph massage) on the arm functioning and QOL(quality of life) in breast cancer patients with lymphedema. Method: Subjects in the experimental group(n=20) participated in EPMLM for 6 weeks from June to July, 2005. The EPMLM consisted of training of lymph massage for 2 weeks and encourage and support of self-care using lymph massage for 4 weeks. The arm functioning assessed at pre-treatment, 2weeks, and 6weeks using Arm functioning questionnaire. The QOL assessed at pre-treatment and 6 weeks using SF-36. The outcome data of experimental group was compared with control group(n=20). The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS 10.0 statistical program. Result: The arm functioning of experimental group was increased from 2 weeks after(W=.224, p=.011) and statistically differenced with control group at 2 weeks(Z=-2.241, p=.024) and 6 weeks(Z=-2.453, p=.013). Physical function of QOL domain increased in experimental group(Z=-1.162, p=.050), also statistically differenced with control group(Z=-2.182, p= .030) at 6weeks. Conclusion: The results suggest that the educational program of manual lymph massage can improve arm functioning and physical function of QOL domain in breast cancer patients with lymphedema.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this case is to report the improvement of a patient with lymphedema due to axillary lymph node dissection after acupuncture therapy and herbal medicine. Methods : We treated the patient with Dong-Qi acupuncture, herbal medication(木通大安湯), lymph absorption massage, compresses, abdominal breathing. We measured the circumference of the patient's elbow and wrist every day at 6pm. Results : Since being hospitalized, the circumference of the patient' elbow and wrist has been decreased and VAS score has gotten lower gradually. Conclusions : We considered Dong-Qi acupuncture, herbal medication had a useful effect on lymphedema due to axillary lymph node dissection with lymph absorption massage, compresses, abdominal breathing.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of study was aimed to identify whether the painless dynamic PNF techniques makes any differences in reducing lymphedema by applying this technique to lymphedema patients, and to provide the basic reference data for the purpose of applying to lymphedema patients. Methods : A total of 40 women participated in this study, and they did PNF techniques before applying lymph compression bandages. Group 1 of 20 subjects performed PNF techniques three times a week with 30 minutes each time. Group 2 of 20 subjects only practiced edema reducing massaging for 30 minutes. Results : In addition, the interaction between treatment method and treatment time was significant (p<.0001), which indicates that the changes in edema rates by measurement times appear differently according to treatment methods. In this study, it means that the 'PNF techniques' group has a steeper slope of decline than the 'message' group. Conclusion : In conclusion, both massaging and PNF techniques helped to lower edema rates. Four weeks after the beginning of treatment, PNF techniques was exhibited as generating a large degree of decline in edema rates than massaging.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.383-392
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study was to gain basic data to develop a self-care protocol for the lymphedema patients. Method: The subjects of this study consisted of 115 patients with lymphedema from 8 hospitals and two community health and welfare centers in Busan and Seoul. The data was collected with questionnaire by self reporting of patients between March 2001 and December 2001. Data was analyzed by mean and percentage. Result: For self-care activities in daily life, compliance of 'use skin care preparations', 'use heat and cold', 'protect from local compression on affected limbs', 'protect from insect biting', 'use aids to protect affected limbs', 'take diuretics and take protein diet' did not reach to 50%. For self-care activities related to complex physical therapy, 28.7% of subjects complied with compression garment, 14.8% with manual lymph drainage, and 13.0% with exercise. 20.0% of subjects tried to treat with acupuncture and 13.9% with heat therapy. Conclusion: From this study, it is suggested that patients need to get a self-care education with correct information about self care activities and health care professionals need to develop more convenience self-care techniques of massage and exercise.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.319-338
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the research trend of Korean traditional medicine for edema under Korean healthcare facilities. Methods : We collected data from search engines for research including domestic online database using the keywords edema, Hydrocele, emphysema and Pneumocranium Results : Total of 41 articles were about Lower body edema, General edema, edema of the eyelid, Lymphedema, Hydrocele, Bone marrow edema, hand edema, Brain edema, emphysema, Pneumocranium The treatment methods used were acupuncture and pharmacopuncture treatment, moxibustion treatment, herbal medicine treatment, cupping treatment, massage treatment, radio frequency treatment, and Chuna treatment. Twenty-nine studies used only oriental medicine treatment, and 12 studies combined oriental medicine and western medicine. the most commonly used measurement was Measurement of the perimeter of the area. Conclusions : This study shows the research trend of edema. Through the collected data, the treatment methods and for specific information of treatments were organized. This study can be used in clinical environments and will contribute for further study in edema.