Most Proposed Topic :
Healthcare Advances, Research and Innovations (new projects / technology)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Authors: (including presenting author): :
Chow KKY(1), Yau CWS(2), Tam SKF(2), Leung CWL(3), Poon MWY(1)
Affiliation: :
(1)Physiotherapy Department, Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital
(2)Department of Medicine, Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital
(3)Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Introduction: :
Lymphoedema is a common distressing condition amongst palliative care(PC) patients. The persistent pain and heaviness significantly affect patient’s mobility and quality of life and hence increase their caregivers’ stress. Compression therapy, one of the component of complete decongestive therapy(CDT), which requires daily 24-hours use of compression bandages or garment, is commonly used for lymphoedema management. Yet, its application to PC patients was challenging because of patient’s poor tolerance to multi-layer bandaging as well as its difficulty in self-application by patient or care-giver. Hence, Physiotherapy Department of HKBH has enhanced lymphedema management by incorporating the application of Kinesiology taping(KT), which is easily to be administered and can provide PC patients a more comfortable way to manage their lymphoedema effectively.
Objectives: :
To evaluate the effect of KT on lymphedema management and patient’s experience amongst PC patients with lower extremities lymphedema.
Methodology: :
It was a retrospective review. Patients under PC in HKBH who were suffered from lower extremities lymphedema from April to November 2023 were recruited. Skin patch test was performed to ensure no skin allergic reaction before application. The fan-shaped tape was anchored at the medial aspect of knee with no tension and the tails were applied to the anterior, lateral and posterior aspect of lower leg with 15-25% tension. Outcome measures included (1)limb circumference, (2)level of pain and leg heaviness in numeric rating scale(NRS), and (3)active range of motion(AROM) of hip and knee.
Result & Outcome: :
Six patients who were suffered from metastatic cancer were reviewed. Improvements were shown in all outcome measures upon the completion of 3 days of KT application. There was decrease in lymphoedema with reduction of lower limb circumference ranged from 4.3% to 9.3%. Regarding symptoms burden, all patients got reduction of sense of leg heaviness ranged from 2 to 4 points out of 10 in NRS and five patients reported of pain reduction ranged from 1 to 3 points out of 10. In addition, all patients showed improvement in hip and Knee joint mobility after KT application. One of the patients got improvement of hip and knee flexion for 15 and 25 respectively. Preliminary data supported that KT might be viable option in managing lymphedema on PC patients.
