Reduction of Arm Lymphedema Using Manual Lymphatic Therapy (Godoy Method)

Jose Maria Pereira de Godoy; Lívia Maria Pereira de Godoy; Henrique Jose Pereira de Godoy; Maria de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy

doi:10.7759/cureus.28374

Reduction of Arm Lymphedema Using Manual Lymphatic Therapy (Godoy Method)

Cureus. 2022 Aug 25;14(8):e28374. doi: 10.7759/cureus.28374. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Authors

Jose Maria Pereira de Godoy^{1

2}, Lívia Maria Pereira de Godoy^{3

4}, Henrique Jose Pereira de Godoy^{5

6}, Maria de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medicine School of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, BRA.
² Angiology and Vascular Surgery, Clinica Godoy, São José do Rio Preto, BRA.
³ Dermatology, Instituto Lauro Souza de Lima-Bauru-Brazil, Bauru, BRA.
⁴ Dermatology, Clinica Godoy, São José do Rio Preto, BRA.
⁵ General Surgery, Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto-FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, BRA.
⁶ General Practice, Clínica Godoy, São José do Rio Preto, BRA.
⁷ Physical Rehabilitation, Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, BRA.
⁸ Rehabilitation, Clinica Godoy, São José do Rio Preto, BRA.

Abstract

Background: The manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) technique used during the early stages following surgical treatment of breast cancer can help prevent the progression of clinical lymphedema.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of manual lymphatic therapy (MLT) (Godoy method) in reducing the development of lymphedema immediately after breast cancer treatment.

Method: A randomized, blind, crossover, clinical trial was conducted involving 66 women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), who underwent one hour of manual physical therapy and one hour of the control procedure. To evaluate the volume before and after the application of the MLT technique, volumetry, a water displacement technique was used. For statistical analysis, the paired t-test with 5% alpha error by Stats Direct 3(StatsDirect Ltd, Wirral, UK) was used.

Results: A significant reduction in the volume of the limb was found in all patients (p-value = 0.0001, paired t-test).

Conclusion: MLT is effective in reducing lymphedema after breast cancer treatment.

Keywords: breast cancer; evaluation; lymphedema; manual lymphatic drainage; therapy.