The reported quality of evidence on the effect of manual therapy on reducing pain in post-surgical breast cancer patients; a structured literature review
Item
- Title
- The reported quality of evidence on the effect of manual therapy on reducing pain in post-surgical breast cancer patients; a structured literature review
- Author(s)
- Clayton, S
- Abstract
- Background: Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS) is a chronic pain, thought to be of neuropathic nature. Previous literature has identified manual therapy as a method to help alleviate pain in breast cancer patients. However, preceding systematic reviews on this subject have highlighted the potential for further research. Objective: The aim of this study is to synthesise and critically evaluate the research conducted over the past five years, regarding the effect of manual therapy on reducing pain in post-surgical breast cancer patients. Furthermore, to discuss the impact it has on future research with regards to future post-surgical rehabilitation programmes, and the implications within clinical practice for manual therapists. Design: Structured Literature Review. Methods: A systematic search using relevant search terms was conducted on the Cochrane Library, Pubmed and ScienceDirect databases for appropriate research published between January 2013 and November 2018. A total of 319 studies were found; further filtering with the inclusion and exclusion criteria followed. There were nine eligible studies summarised in a table form and then critically evaluated using the Jadad Scale and the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) to determine the study quality. Results: Pain levels decreased in post-surgical breast cancer patients following manual therapy across all studies. The SORT analysis had a mode of 2b suggesting that the overall quality of studies was moderate to poor. The Jadad Scale analysis was indicative of low validity due to a lack of double blinding. A positive correlation was found between year of publication and the Jadad score increasing. Discussion: Methodological heterogeneity resulted in a limitation of data interpretation and analysis. The differing quality of evidence and validity identified the risk of bias. There is scope for further clarification of short and long-term effects of manual therapy treatment on pain management in PMPS patients. Conclusion: Overall, the results demonstrate that patients with PMPS benefit from receiving manual therapy treatment to aid with short-term pain management. However, this review has highlighted methodological heterogeneity and identifies literature quality variations. Further well-designed research is warranted to allow for a more definitive conclusion to be drawn.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2019
- Date Submitted
- 19.11.2019 18:31:01
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16487
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Breast cancer, Manual therapy, Pain, Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome.
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Clayton, S, “The reported quality of evidence on the effect of manual therapy on reducing pain in post-surgical breast cancer patients; a structured literature review”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 5, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/342