Breast Cancer FemalePT-ND-BCNCT03250351
Nerve Mobilization Techniques After Breast Cancer Surgery
A study testing Neural mobilization group in people with Breast Cancer Female, run by University of Alcala at 1 site in Spain.
Trial summary
Objective: To determine whether adding neurodynamic mobilization to early postoperative physiotherapy improves long-term shoulder disability after breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Breast Cancer Female
- What is being tested?
- Neural mobilization group
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 140 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 10 Aug 2017to 10 Dec 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Women treated for unilateral breast cancer with surgery, including axillary lymph node dissection at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of "Príncipe de Asturias" Hospital
- No contraindication to physical therapy
- Informed consent read, understood, and freely signed
Who cannot join
- Bilateral breast cancer
- Systemic disease (metastases)
- Infection
- Loco regional recurrence
- Chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of Nerve Mobilization Techniques at Improving Upper Limb Morbidity Following Breast Cancer Surgery
Objective: To determine whether adding neurodynamic mobilization to early postoperative physiotherapy improves long-term shoulder disability after breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection. Design: prospective randomized and single blind trial where participants will be randomly allocated into two groups by EPIDAT 3.1 software. Follow-up will be conducted through seven physical therapy assessments: one before surgery, the second one after surgery, the third one post-physical therapy intervention, the fourth one after three months, the fifth after six months and, the sixth one after twelve months, and the seven one after 24 months. Participants: one hundred and forty women, who are undergoing a unilateral breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection in the Breast Cancer Unit from "Príncipe de Asturias" Hospital. Intervention: Early physical therapy to control group and Early physical therapy plus nerve mobilization to intervention group during the three following weeks from surgery. Mechanosensitivity-related symptoms will be assessed using the Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1) before and after surgery. The primary outcome will be shoulder disability, measured with the disability subscale of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Secondary outcomes will include shoulder pain related to activities of daily living and the total SPADI score.
Read the detailed description
After giving their written informed consent, the participants will be summoned to perform the first assessment prior to surgery. Once participants will be discharged from hospital, approximately 3-5 days following the surgery, will be summoned to perform the second assessment. Those who will fulfil the selection criteria will be randomly allocated into two groups by an independent physical therapist. The experimental group will receive Early Physical Therapy plus neural mobilization and the control group will receive Early Physical Therapy. The same physical therapist will carry out all interventions for both groups. The physical therapist who will carry out the randomization process as well as the one who will perform the interventions will be the only two study members aware of group allocation. A third independent and blinded physical therapist will perform the assessments for all participants. Both physical therapists have more than fifteen years' experience in the treatment of breast cancer side effects. The Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1) will be performed before surgery and after surgery to assess mechanosensitivity-related symptoms.The test sequence and the criteria will be followed to identify a positive test will reproduce from de study of de la Rosa.
In both groups, those women who will develop axillary web syndrome symptoms will receive an approach that aim at improving vascular tissue flexibility. If secondary lymphoedema will diagnose then complex decongestive physiotherapy will carry out.
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer Female
- Being tested
- Neural mobilization group, Control group
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Neural mobilization groupOther
See arm/group descriptions
Control groupOther
See arm/group descriptions
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Neural mobilization group | Experimental | 3 to 5 days after surgery, the participants assigned to this group will receive 9 sessions of early physical therapy plus educational program (described in Torres Lacomba M) plus neurodynamic techniques consisting of neural tissue longitudinal glide using the Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1), the neurodynamic test sequence for the median nerve, described by Butler and adapted by de la Rosa. With participants in the supine position, the shoulder was abducted and externally rotated, the scapula depressed, the forearm supinated, and the wrist and fingers extended. Mobilization was applied by depressing the scapula, flexing the elbow, and elevating the scapula, extending the elbow, within a pain-free range. The mobilization was applied for 2 minutes. Each session will be of 40 minutes approximately and will be held 3 sessions a week for 3 weeks. Receives: Other: Neural mobilization group; Other: Control group |
| Control group | Active comparator | 3 to 5 days after surgery, the participants assigned to this group will receive 9 sessions of early physical therapy plus educational program (described in Torres Lacomba M). Each session will be of 40 minutes approximately and will be held 3 sessions a week for 3 weeks. Receives: Other: Control group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Shoulder disability
Shoulder disability will be assessed using the disability subscale of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), which is a valid and reliable measure in breast cancer survivors.
Measured: Before surgery (A0), 3-5 days after surgery (A1), immediately after treatment (A2), and at 3 months (A3), 6 months (A4), 12 months (A5), and 24 months (A6) after treatment
Secondary outcomes (2)
Daily living-related shoulder pain
Daily living-related shoulder pain will be assessed using the SPADI pain subscale.
Measured: Before surgery (A0), 3-5 days after surgery (A1), immediately after treatment (A2), and at 3 months (A3), 6 months (A4), 12 months (A5), and 24 months (A6) after treatment
Shoulder pain and related disability
Shoulder pain and related disability will be assessed using the total SPADI score.
Measured: Before surgery (A0), 3-5 days after surgery (A1), immediately after treatment (A2), and at 3 months (A3), 6 months (A4), 12 months (A5), and 24 months (A6) after treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Aug 2017
- Study start10 Aug 2017
- Primary completion10 Nov 2020
- Study completion10 Dec 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Breast Cancer FemaleStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Two groups: Experimental group \& Control group
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alcala
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Maria Torres Lacomba, University of Alcala
- Investigators
- María Torres-Lacomba, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Alcalá
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03250351
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 12/2009
- Acronym
- PT-ND-BC
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Aug 2017
- Last updated
- 7 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Torres Lacomba M, Yuste Sanchez MJ, Zapico Goni A, Prieto Merino D, Mayoral del Moral O, Cerezo Tellez E, Minayo Mogollon E. Effectiveness of early physiotherapy to prevent lymphoedema after surgery for breast cancer: randomised, single blinded, clinical trial. BMJ. 2010 Jan 12;340:b5396. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b5396.
PubMed 20068255de la Rosa-Diaz I, Torres-Lacomba M, Acosta-Ramirez P, Orive IG, Nee RJ, de la Villa-Polo P, Andres-Esteban EM, Sanchez-Sanchez B. Protective myoelectric activity at performing upper limb neurodynamic test 1 in breast cancer survivors. A cross-sectional observational study. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Aug;36:68-80. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2018.05.003. Epub 2018 May 22.
PubMed 29860136Torres-Lacomba M, Prieto-Gomez V, Arranz-Martin B, Ferrandez JC, Yuste-Sanchez MJ, Navarro-Brazalez B, Romay-Barrero H. Manual Lymph Drainage With Progressive Arm Exercises for Axillary Web Syndrome After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Phys Ther. 2022 Mar 1;102(3):pzab314. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzab314.
PubMed 35079831Torres-Lacomba M, Sanchez-Sanchez B, Prieto-Gomez V, Pacheco-da-Costa S, Yuste-Sanchez MJ, Navarro-Brazalez B, Gutierrez-Ortega C. Spanish cultural adaptation and validation of the shoulder pain and disability index, and the oxford shoulder score after breast cancer surgery. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2015 May 23;13:63. doi: 10.1186/s12955-015-0256-y.
PubMed 26001890
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Nerve Mobilization Techniques at Improving Upper Limb Morbidity Following Breast Cancer Surgery
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03250351
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PT-ND-BC / 12/2009
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer Female
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of AlcalaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Aug 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Nov 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Dec 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Aug 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Objective: To determine whether adding neurodynamic mobilization to early postoperative physiotherapy improves long-term shoulder disability after breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection. Design: prospective randomized and single blind trial where participants will be randomly allocated into two groups by EPIDAT 3.1 software. Follow-up will be conducted through seven physical therapy assessments: one before surgery, the second one after surgery, the third one post-physical therapy intervention, the fourth one after three months, the fifth after six months and, the sixth one after twelve months, and the seven one after 24 months. Participants: one hundred and forty women, who are undergoing a unilateral breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection in the Breast Cancer Unit from "Príncipe de Asturias" Hospital. Intervention: Early physical therapy to control group and Early physical therapy plus nerve mobilization to intervention group during the three following weeks from surgery. Mechanosensitivity-related symptoms will be assessed using the Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1) before and after surgery. The primary outcome will be shoulder disability, measured with the disability subscale of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Secondary outcomes will include shoulder pain related to activities of daily living and the total SPADI score.
Detailed description
After giving their written informed consent, the participants will be summoned to perform the first assessment prior to surgery. Once participants will be discharged from hospital, approximately 3-5 days following the surgery, will be summoned to perform the second assessment. Those who will fulfil the selection criteria will be randomly allocated into two groups by an independent physical therapist. The experimental group will receive Early Physical Therapy plus neural mobilization and the control group will receive Early Physical Therapy. The same physical therapist will carry out all interventions for both groups. The physical therapist who will carry out the randomization process as well as the one who will perform the interventions will be the only two study members aware of group allocation. A third independent and blinded physical therapist will perform the assessments for all participants. Both physical therapists have more than fifteen years' experience in the treatment of breast cancer side effects. The Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1) will be performed before surgery and after surgery to assess mechanosensitivity-related symptoms.The test sequence and the criteria will be followed to identify a positive test will reproduce from de study of de la Rosa.
In both groups, those women who will develop axillary web syndrome symptoms will receive an approach that aim at improving vascular tissue flexibility. If secondary lymphoedema will diagnose then complex decongestive physiotherapy will carry out.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Two groups: Experimental group \& Control group
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Neural mobilization group | Experimental | Other: Neural mobilization group, Other: Control group3 to 5 days after surgery, the participants assigned to this group will receive 9 sessions of early physical therapy plus educational program (described in Torres Lacomba M) plus neurodynamic techniques consisting of neural tissue longitudinal glide using the Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1), the neurodynamic test sequence for the median nerve, described by Butler and adapted by de la Rosa. With participants in the supine position, the shoulder was abducted and externally rotated, the scapula depressed, the forearm supinated, and the wrist and fingers extended. Mobilization was applied by depressing the scapula, flexing the elbow, and elevating the scapula, extending the elbow, within a pain-free range. The mobilization was applied for 2 minutes. Each session will be of 40 minutes approximately and will be held 3 sessions a week for 3 weeks. |
| Control group | Active comparator | Other: Control group3 to 5 days after surgery, the participants assigned to this group will receive 9 sessions of early physical therapy plus educational program (described in Torres Lacomba M). Each session will be of 40 minutes approximately and will be held 3 sessions a week for 3 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 70 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Women treated for unilateral breast cancer with surgery, including axillary lymph node dissection at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of "Príncipe de Asturias" Hospital
- No contraindication to physical therapy
- Informed consent read, understood, and freely signed
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Bilateral breast cancer
- Systemic disease (metastases)
- Infection
- Loco regional recurrence
- Chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Neural mobilization groupSee arm/group descriptions | Other | Neural mobilization group |
| Control groupSee arm/group descriptions | Other | Control group, Neural mobilization group |
Primary outcome
Shoulder disability
Time frame: Before surgery (A0), 3-5 days after surgery (A1), immediately after treatment (A2), and at 3 months (A3), 6 months (A4), 12 months (A5), and 24 months (A6) after treatment
Shoulder disability will be assessed using the disability subscale of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), which is a valid and reliable measure in breast cancer survivors.
2 secondary outcomes
Daily living-related shoulder pain
Time frame: Before surgery (A0), 3-5 days after surgery (A1), immediately after treatment (A2), and at 3 months (A3), 6 months (A4), 12 months (A5), and 24 months (A6) after treatment
Shoulder pain and related disability
Time frame: Before surgery (A0), 3-5 days after surgery (A1), immediately after treatment (A2), and at 3 months (A3), 6 months (A4), 12 months (A5), and 24 months (A6) after treatment
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 20068255Torres Lacomba M, Yuste Sanchez MJ, Zapico Goni A, Prieto Merino D, Mayoral del Moral O, Cerezo Tellez E, Minayo Mogollon E. Effectiveness of early physiotherapy to prevent lymphoedema after surgery for breast cancer: randomised, single blinded, clinical trial. BMJ. 2010 Jan 12;340:b5396. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b5396.
- Background: PubMed 29860136de la Rosa-Diaz I, Torres-Lacomba M, Acosta-Ramirez P, Orive IG, Nee RJ, de la Villa-Polo P, Andres-Esteban EM, Sanchez-Sanchez B. Protective myoelectric activity at performing upper limb neurodynamic test 1 in breast cancer survivors. A cross-sectional observational study. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Aug;36:68-80. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2018.05.003. Epub 2018 May 22.
- Background: PubMed 35079831Torres-Lacomba M, Prieto-Gomez V, Arranz-Martin B, Ferrandez JC, Yuste-Sanchez MJ, Navarro-Brazalez B, Romay-Barrero H. Manual Lymph Drainage With Progressive Arm Exercises for Axillary Web Syndrome After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Phys Ther. 2022 Mar 1;102(3):pzab314. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzab314.
- Background: PubMed 26001890Torres-Lacomba M, Sanchez-Sanchez B, Prieto-Gomez V, Pacheco-da-Costa S, Yuste-Sanchez MJ, Navarro-Brazalez B, Gutierrez-Ortega C. Spanish cultural adaptation and validation of the shoulder pain and disability index, and the oxford shoulder score after breast cancer surgery. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2015 May 23;13:63. doi: 10.1186/s12955-015-0256-y.
- Physiotherapy in women´s health research groupLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
María Torres-Lacomba, PhD principal investigator
University of Alcalá
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Neural mobilization group in people with Breast Cancer Female, run by University of Alcala at 1 site in Spain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Shoulder disability (time frame: Before surgery (A0), 3-5 days after surgery (A1), immediately after treatment (A2), and at 3 months (A3), 6 months (A4), 12 months (A5), and 24 months (A6) after treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03250351, which also lists 4 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 May 2026.