Article

Shoulder movement impairment is a commonly reported consequence of
surgery for breast cancer.
The aim of this study was to determine
whether shoulder girdle kinematics, including those of the scapula, spine, and
upper limb, in women who have undergone a unilateral mastectomy for breast cancer
are different from those demonstrated by an age-matched control group.
DESIGN: An
observational study using 3-dimensional kinematic analysis was performed.
METHODS: Women who had a unilateral mastectomy on their dominant-arm side (n=29,
mean [+/-SD] age=62.4+/-8.9 years) or nondominant-arm side (n=24, mean [+/-SD]
age=59.8+/-9.9 years), as well as a control group of age-matched women without
upper-limb, shoulder, or spinal problems (n=22, mean [+/-SD] age=58.1+/-11.5
years), were measured while performing bilateral arm movements in the sagittal,
scapular, and coronal planes. All of the women were free of shoulder pain at the
time of testing. Data were collected from the glenohumeral joint, the
scapulothoracic articulation, and the spine (upper and lower thoracic and lumbar
regions) using an electromagnetic tracking system. RESULTS: Women following
mastectomy displayed altered patterns of scapular rotation compared with controls
in all planes of movement. In particular, the scapula on the mastectomy side
rotated upward to a markedly greater extent than that on the nonmastectomy side,
and women following mastectomy displayed greater scapular excursion than
controls. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that altered motor patterns of the
scapula are associated with mastectomy on the same side. Whether these changes
are harmful or not is unclear. Investigation of interventions designed to restore
normal scapulohumeral relationships on the affected side following unilateral
mastectomy for breast cancer is warranted.

Langue : ANGLAIS