Postprandial glycaemic response and pain sensitivity in breast cancer survivors suffering from chronic pain: a double-blind, randomised controlled cross-over pilot experiment.

Introduction: The study's primary goal is to investigate differences in postprandial glycaemic response (PPGR) to beverages with varying glycaemic index (i.e. low and medium) between breast cancer survivors (BCS) with chronic pain and healthy pain-free controls (HC).

Feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program during and after treatment of head and neck cancer: a mixed-methods study.

Purpose: This study evaluates the feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program (CSEP) for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients during and after (chemo)radiotherapy, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to identify participation barriers and facilitators.

Methods: To investigate the feasibility of the CSEP, a mixed-method study was performed. For the quantitative part, first, adherence to and safety of the CSEP were considered as quantitative feasibility outcome measures.

Assessing upper limb functional use in daily life using accelerometry: A systematic review.

Background: Upper limb dysfunctions are common and disabling in daily life. Accelerometer data are commonly used to describe upper limb use. However, different data analyzing methods are used to describe or classify upper limb use.

Characteristics of lymphoedema, in particular midline lymphoedema, after treatment for prostate cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: Patients undergoing treatment for prostate cancer may develop lymphoedema of the midline region. This has a substantial impact on a patient's quality of life and its diagnosis is often delayed or missed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the characteristics of patients with leg and midline lymphoedema to patients with only leg lymphoedema.

A data-driven approach to detect upper limb functional use during daily life in breast cancer survivors using wrist-worn sensors.

To gain insights into the impact of upper limb (UL) dysfunctions after breast cancer treatment, this study aimed to develop a temporal convolutional neural network (TCN) to detect functional daily UL use in breast cancer survivors using data from a wrist-worn accelerometer. A pre-existing dataset of 10 breast cancer survivors was used that contained raw 3-axis acceleration data and simultaneously recorded video data, captured during four daily life activities. The input of our TCN consists of a 3-axis acceleration sequence with a receptive field of 243 samples.

Upper-Limb Movement Quality before and after Surgery in Women with Breast Cancer: An Exploratory Study.

(1) Background: This study aimed to describe upper-limb (UL) movement quality parameters in women after breast cancer surgery and to explore their clinical relevance in relation to post-surgical pain and disability. (2) Methods: UL movement quality was assessed in 30 women before and 3 weeks after surgery for breast cancer. Via accelerometer data captured from a sensor located at the distal end of the forearm on the operated side, various movement quality parameters (local dynamic stability, movement predictability, movement smoothness, movement symmetry, and movement variability) were investigated while women performed a cyclic, weighted reaching task.

Prognostic factors for the development of upper limb dysfunctions after breast cancer: the UPLIFT-BC prospective longitudinal cohort study protocol.

Introduction: Upper limb (UL) dysfunctions are highly prevalent in people after breast cancer and have a great impact on performing activities in daily living. To improve care, a more comprehensive understanding of the development and persistence of UL dysfunctions is needed. Therefore, the UPLIFT-BC study will primarily examine the prognostic value of different factors at the body functions and structures, environmental and personal level of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework at 1-month post-surgery for persisting UL dysfunctions at 6 months after finishing cancer treatment.

Concurrent validity of dynamic bedside quantitative sensory testing paradigms in breast cancer survivors with persistent pain.

Background: Studies on the concurrent validity of clinically applicable testing protocols for conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation of pain (TSP) in breast cancer survivors (BCS) with persistent pain are lacking.

Objectives: This study investigated the concurrent validity of two bedside protocols for CPM and TSP in comparison to a respective reference protocol. The participants' preferences for bedside CPM and TSP protocols were assessed.

Continuum of somatosensory profiles in breast cancer survivors with and without pain, compared to healthy controls and patients with fibromyalgia.

Context: The prevalence of persistent pain among breast cancer survivors (BCS) is high, and it is unclear what distinguishes those with persistent pain from those without. Research suggests that differences in somatosensory function evaluated by quantitative sensory testing (QST) may be responsible.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe somatosensory profiles in terms of hyper- and hypoesthesia in BCS with and without persistent pain using reference data from healthy controls.

Cytokine Expression in Cancer Survivors Suffering From Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review.

Background: Chronic cancer-related pain remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, although it affects 40% of cancer survivors. Recent insights suggest that cytokine signaling between immune, neuro, and glial cells contributes to chronic pain.

Objectives: This study systematically reviewed cytokine levels and their relation to chronic cancer-related pain and, additionally, investigated differences in cytokine levels between cancer survivors with and without chronic pain.

Barriers and facilitators to physical activity in cancer survivors with pain: a systematic review.

Purpose: Pain post-treatment is a debilitating symptom in the growing population of cancer survivors. While physical activity is an integral part of pain management, low levels of physical activity are often observed in this population. The aim of this systematic review is to gain insight into the barriers and facilitators to physical activity in cancer survivors afflicted with pain.

Accuracy of consumer-based activity trackers as measuring tool and coaching device in breast and colorectal cancer survivors.

Purpose: Consumer-based activity trackers are used to measure and promote PA. We studied the accuracy of a wrist- and waist-worn activity tracker in cancer survivors and compared these results to a healthy age-matched control group.

Methods: Twenty-two cancer survivors and 35 healthy subjects wore an activity tracker at the waist and at the wrist combined with a reference activity monitor at the waist (Dynaport Movemonitor).

Validation of Commercial Activity Trackers in Everyday Life of People with Parkinson's Disease.

Maintaining physical activity is an important clinical goal for people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). We investigated the validity of two commercial activity trackers (ATs) to measure daily step counts. We compared a wrist- and a hip-worn commercial AT against the research-grade Dynaport Movemonitor (DAM) during 14 days of daily use.

EffEx-HN trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial on the EFFectiveness and feasibility of a comprehensive supervised EXercise program during radiotherapy in Head and Neck cancer patients on health-related quality of life.

Background: With over 500,000 annually reported cases worldwide, head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common type of cancer worldwide. Treatment of HNC with chemoradiotherapy frequently results in serious impairments in physical and psychosocial functioning. Besides, HNC patients typically start their cancer treatment already with poor physical and psychosocial health.

The effect of myofascial and physical therapy on trunk, shoulder, and elbow movement patterns in women with pain and myofascial dysfunctions after breast cancer surgery: Secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Secondary upper limb dysfunctions are common after breast cancer treatment. Myofascial treatment may be a valuable physical therapy modality for this problem.

Objective: To investigate the effect of myofascial therapy in addition to physical therapy on shoulder, trunk, and elbow movement patterns in women with pain and myofascial dysfunctions at the upper limb after breast cancer surgery.

Musculoskeletal Pain: Current and Future Directions of Physical Therapy Practice.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is 1 of the most common problems managed by clinicians in MSK care. This article reviews current frameworks for the assessment and management of MSK pain within evidence-based physical therapy practice. Key considerations related to the biopsychosocial model of pain, evidence-based practice, assessment, treatment, physical activity/movement behavior, risk stratification, communication as well as patient education and self-management skills within physical therapy and physical and rehabilitation medicine are addressed.

The Effectiveness of Fluoroscopy-Guided Manual Lymph Drainage as Part of Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy on the Superficial Lymphatic Architecture in Patients with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphoedema: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effectiveness of fluoroscopy-guided manual lymph drainage (MLD), as part of decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT), on the superficial lymphatic architecture in patients with chronic mild to moderate breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL). This trial was a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial involving 194 participants with BCRL. Participants were randomised into (1) DLT with fluoroscopy-guided MLD (intervention group), (2) DLT with traditional MLD (control group), or (3) DLT with placebo MLD (placebo group).

Feasibility and pilot testing of a personalized eHealth intervention for pain science education and self-management for breast cancer survivors with persistent pain: a mixed-method study.

Purpose: Here, we describe the development and pilot study of a personalized eHealth intervention containing a pain science education program and self-management support strategies regarding pain and pain-related functioning in female survivors of breast cancer. First, we aimed to evaluate the eHealth intervention's acceptability, comprehensibility, and satisfaction; second, we aimed to assess its preliminary efficacy.

Methods: A mixed-method study design was used.

Effect of pain neuroscience education after breast cancer surgery on pain, physical, and emotional functioning: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial (EduCan trial).

Pain is one of the most common and long-lasting side effects reported by women surgically treated for breast cancer. Educational interventions may optimize the current physical therapy modalities for pain prevention or relief in this population. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is an educational intervention that explains the pain experience not only from a biomedical perspective but also the psychological and social factors that contribute to it.

Effectiveness of pain neuroscience education on somatosensory functioning after surgery for breast cancer: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Pain is one of the most prevalent and long-term adverse effects described by people who have undergone breast cancer surgery. Non-helpful perceptions and thoughts about pain may contribute to the transition of acute to persistent pain. Adding educational interventions to the current physical therapy program in this population may help to improve or prevent persistent pain.