Inertial Rehabilitation in Women After Mastectomy

Inertial rehabilitation was performed twice a week (Monday and Thursday, between 5:00 and 8:00 PM) for 6 weeks using Cyklotren device (Inerion, Poland). Exercises were conducted by the same 2 researchers. Each training session included warm-up and 4 sets of shoulder flexors, extensors, abductors, and adductors, with the right and left arms worked separately (16 sets for left and 16 sets for right arm). Each set lasted 15 seconds, a 2-minute break occurred between consecutive sets (without rest period between right and left arm). For all trained muscles 5 kg load was applied. During the training participants developed 70% of their maximal force achieved during the strength measurement. Participants observed developed during training force value displayed on-line on the screen. Cyklotren software allows to set the upper and lower limit of force; when developed strength was to low or to high a beep signal was emitted to correct participant force.

All women (from T and C group) participated in rehabilitation gymnastics twice a week during experiment (6 weeks). The gymnastics was conducted by a physiotherapist specializing in rehabilitation of women after mastectomy. The trehabilitation session lasted 45 minutes. During the sessions, the women mainly performed exercises involved shoulders, chest and the upper limbs muscles. Moreover, abdomen and back muscles were exercised.