Maher, J., Refshauge, K., Ward, L., Paterson, R., & Kilbreath, S. (2012). Change in extracellular fluid and arm volumes as a consequence of a single session of lymphatic massage followed by rest with or without compression. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20, 3079–3086.

To evaluate the effects of massage and compression in women with and without arm lymphedema secondary to breast cancer  

Women with clinically diagnosed lymphedema secondary to breast cancer and a convenience sample of women without breast cancer or lymphedema were recruited. Women who wore a compression garment removed it two hours before measurement and massage.  Measurements were taken prior to, mid way through, and at the completion of massage. Women received a therapeutic massage for one hour using the Foldi method of lymphatic drainage provided by a single trained therapist.

• The study reported on 30 female patients.
• The mean age of patients in the breast cancer group was 60 years. The mean age of patients in the nonbreast cancer group was 46 years.
• All patients with breast cancer were at least three months post-completion of any treatment. All of these patients had an interarm volume difference of at least 200 ml by perometry or bioimpedance interarm ratio greater than the standard cutoff for lymphedema.

This was a single-site study conducted in the outpatient setting in Australia.

The study used a pre/post design.

Perometry and bioimpedance techniques were used.

No statistically or clinically significant effect was found between the use of massage and limb volume with either study group.

A single session of lymphatic massage did not reduce lymphedema.

The sample size was small, with fewer than 30 participants.

 Findings suggest that a single session of lymphatic massage does not have any effect on arm volume in women with or without lymphedema.