• Hodges J
• Beck N

• Aged
• Female
• Mastectomy / rehabilitation
• Myofascial Release Therapy
• Open Access Document

Objective: The purpose of this report is to examine the use of chiropractic care and rehabilitation combined with myofascial release to treat a patient diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent a double mastectomy to remove all cancerous lymph nodes.

Methods: A 67-year-old female presented with a chief complaint of bilateral radiating numbness and swelling into her hands after a radical double mastectomy to remove all cancerous lymph nodes. Previous chiropractic care and physical therapy had no impact on her symptoms. All shoulder range of motion was decreased at the start of treatment. A wall angel functional assessment induced pain and inability to place her arms into the 90-degree position on the wall indicating external rotator cuff and pec minor involvement bilaterally. All motor and reflex testing was within normal limits, sensation was decreased along the C6 and C7 dermatomes bilaterally.

Results: Passive myofascial release was performed on the infraspinatus and pectoralis minor muscles bilaterally along with a prone diversified chiropractic adjustment to restore motion to the cervicothoracic junction at C7-T1. An immediate increase in shoulder range of motion was noted as well as an increase in scapulohumeral rhythm. The patient was seen once per week for 6 weeks and given stretches for the infraspinatus and pectoralis minor muscles bilaterally to be performed 3 to 5 times per day with 30 second holds.

Conclusion: The patient’s symptoms decreased after one treatment, and no symptoms were reported after 4 treatments. Chiropractic care along with myofascial release can potentially improve the quality of life of a patient even after major surgery.

Author keywords: Lymph Nodes, Breast Cancer, Myofascial Release, Chiropractic

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