This study aimed to explore the effect of NJF intervention on the physical function of patients with shoulder dysfunction during chemotherapy after radical cancer surgery.
This study included 162 female patients who have unilateral breast cancer in a cancer hospital in China. They developed shoulder joint mobility disorders during chemotherapy within 1–3 months postoperatively. These patients were divided into three groups: NJF, conventional rehabilitation (conventional group), and control groups. The clinical examination included the maximum passive and active range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and external and internal rotation). Other evaluations included a pain score using a visual analog scale (VAS), grip strength, and supraspinatus muscle thickness. All tests were evaluated pre-and post-intervention.
The NJF group showed a significant increase in all shoulder ROM angles post-intervention. In the conventional group, all other ROM values increased significantly, except passive external rotation ROM. In the control group, all other ROM values increased significantly, except passive and active external rotation ROM. All three groups had decreased VAS scores, increased grip strength, and supraspinatus muscle thickness post-intervention during active abduction. In the control group, the supraspinatus contraction rate decreased significantly at 60° and 90° abduction post-intervention compared to that at pre-intervention.
This study suggests that NJF treatment is superior to traditional rehabilitation treatment. NJF has positive clinical intervention effects in improving shoulder joint mobility disorders, pain, grip strength, and external rotation movement of the shoulder joint during chemotherapy after radical breast cancer surgery. NJF treatment demonstrates rapid and effective alleviation of shoulder joint dysfunction in breast cancer patients,thereby enhancing upper limb motor ability. Moreover, the standardized operating pattern of NJF facilitates therapists’ proficiency and promotes its clinical applicability.
NJF is a new type of exercise therapy. NJF shoulder joint treatment technology uses proximal joint resistance and resistance exercises against rotational motion to promote the activity of rotator cuff muscles, which can more effectively improve shoulder joint dysfunction after breast cancer surgery.
Radical breast cancer surgery
Shoulder joint mobility disorders
