Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three different rehabilitation treatments (exercise therapy, acupuncture, and silicon oxide tablets (Stiper®) in women who have undergone breast cancer surgery. The study assessed the impact of these treatments on strength, lymphedema, and quality of life. METHODS: The study included seventy-nine women who reported pain levels above 3 on the visual analog pain scale (VAS) and had undergone surgery more than 90 days prior. Group I received exercise therapy for 30 minutes, Group II received acupuncture for 30 minutes using predefined points, and Group III received acupuncture at the same points as Group II using silicon oxide instead of needles at the same points as Group II. RESULTS: The results showed an improvement in upper limb muscle strength over time in all groups, except for abduction and internal rotation movements. During treatment, there was no increase in the number of patients with lymphedema, and there was no statistical difference between the groups. Nine out of the fifteen factors analyzed in the EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life questionnaire showed significant differences between sessions. The factors that did not show significant differences between the three groups were Social Function, Nausea and Vomiting, Dyspnea, Loss of Appetite, Constipation, and Diarrhea. CONCLUSION: The rehabilitation of physical dysfunctions in women who survived breast cancer through exercise therapy, acupuncture, and silicon oxide tablets in upper limb muscle strength, lymphedema, and quality of life, proved to be effective, without difference between groups.