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International Journal of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Volume 5 (2019), Article ID 5:IJPTR-155, 6 pages
https://doi.org/10.15344/2455-7498/2019/155
Review Article
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Shoulder Rehabilitation of Women Submitted to Surgical Treatment for Breast Cancer

Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro1,2,*, Daniela Santana Polati Silveira2, Carla Silva Perez2, Thais Montezuma2, Monique Silva Rezende2, Raul Oliveira3 and Rinaldo Roberto de Jesus Guirro1,2

1Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil
2Postgraduate Program in RehabilitationandFunctional Performance, São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
3CIPER, Neuromuscular ResearchLaboratory,, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-004, Portugal
Dr. Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SãoPaulo, Brazil, Bandeirantes Avenue, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049900, Brazil, Tel: +5516 3315-4584; E-mail: ecguirro@fmrp.usp.br
12 September 2019; 12 October 2019; 14 October 2019
Guirro ECO, Silveira DSP, Perez CS, Montezuma T, Rezende MS, et al. (2019) Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Shoulder Rehabilitation of Women Submitted to Surgical Treatment for Breast Cancer. Int J Phys Ther Rehab 5: 155. doi: https://doi.org/10.15344/2455-7498/2019/155
This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 88881.190398/2018-01.

Abstract

Background: Survivors of breast cancer show loss of function of the homolateral limb after treatment, which involves reduction of the functional range of the shoulder, as well as impairment of the involved musculature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the electromyographic activity and the strength of the muscles in the shoulder complex of women who have been subjected to mastectomies, after an intervention using Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) exercises.
Methods: This study included 18 women submitted to modified radical mastectomy, with a mean age of 52.55±8.42 years. The training exercises with Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation occurred two times per week for eight weeks, the standards used were the diagonal pattern, with flexion-abductionexternal rotation and extension-adduction-internal rotation. For the evaluation of the electromyographic activity, electrodes were positioned in the muscles of the upper trapezius and deltoid (anterior, middle and posterior muscle fibers).
Results: The electromyographic analysis demonstrated a 32% elevation in the Standard Envelope (SE) of the middle fiber of the deltoid muscle (DM), 15% in the SE of the upper trapezius (UT), an increase in muscle strength of 15% in the DM and 15% in the UT, also raising the strength of these muscles by 36%.
Conclusion: The results of the proposed intervention allow us to conclude that, for the sample evaluated, there was an increase in the recruitment of motor units and of muscle strength of the shoulder affected by the surgery to treat breast cancer.