Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping in Patients With Chronic Breast and/or Truncal Oedema After Treatment for Breast Cancer.

"Decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT) is the current standard of care for lymphoedema management as recommended by the International Society of Lymphology (ISL). It consists of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), skin care (education), compression therapy using a properly fitted compression bra, and supervised exercise therapy. Sessions last 45 minutes and are delivered two times per week for a period of four weeks.~On non-treatment days, participants are encouraged to perform home exercises and document self-care practices in a diary."

"Kinesio tape will be applied by trained physiotherapists twice a week. The kinesio tape remains in place for three consecutive days and is replaced once a week. After six days of continuous use, patients will have one rest day without kinesio tape to allow the skin to recover. This cycle will be repeated for the duration of the intervention period.~The kinesio tape will be applied using a standardised fan-cut technique to ensure consistent application across all study sites. Tape length will be individually tailored. Each application will consist of three fan-shaped strips:~1. Breast: Anchored at the ipsilateral axilla and directed vertically over the affected breast.~2. Ventral anastomosis: Originating from the contralateral axilla and applied horizontally over the chest.~3. Dorsal anastomosis: Also anchored at the healthy axilla and applied horizontally over the back.~Patients will be instructed in safe self-application for potential use during follow-up."

In a subset of participants, different types of commercially available compression bras are tested for pressure and comfort. Each bra is worn for a period of one week without compromising the outcomes of the primary objective. The pressure exerted by the garment is measured using the PicoPress device on the first day of wear. The wearing comfort is evaluated using an adjusted version of the ICC compression questionnaire after one week of wearing the compression bra.