Therapeutic effect of upper extremities exercise based on mirror therapy in the postoperative recovery of shoulder function in breast cancer patients

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of upper extremities exercise based on mirror therapy in the postoperative recovery of shoulder function in breast cancer patients. A total of 120 patients were selected from January 2021 to December 2021 and randomly divided into the control group (60 cases) and the observation group (60 cases) by random number table method. The control group was given conventional intervention, while the observation group was additionally given mirror therapy. The Constant-Murley Score (CMS), Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score, compliance of shoulder exercise, and arm circumference were compared between the two groups before the intervention and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks or 8 weeks after surgery. After 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks of intervention, patients in the observation group showed higher scores of CMS, lower scores of DASH and better compliance of shoulder exercise than those in the control group. There was no significant difference regarding the bilateral circumference difference of upper limbs between the control group and the observation group. The application of mirror therapy is beneficial to the mobility of shoulder joint, and it promotes the functional recovery of shoulder joint, reduces the occurrence of upper limb dysfunction and increases the compliance of shoulder exercise, whereby preventing lymphedema of the upper extremities in the postoperative shoulder exercise of breast cancer patients.