LymphedemaNCT06041958
Effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Lymphoedema
A study testing Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, Pulse electromagnetic field therapy and Rehabilitation in people with Lymphedema, run by Zheng-Yu Hoe, MD., PhD. at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Lymphedema occurs not only in patients with breast cancer and gynecological cancers but also in those where lymphatic drainage is obstructed. Accumulation of lymphatic fluid within tissues results in limb swelling. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Lymphedema
- What is being tested?
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, Pulse electromagnetic field therapy and Rehabilitation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 8 Oct 2021to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 20 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must be at least 20 years old and have no significant cognitive, language comprehension, or communication issues, be able to understand and follow instructions, and sign the informed consent form.
- Individuals with lymphedema after treatment for breast cancer or gynecologic cancer are eligible (lymphedema is defined as a circumference difference of >2 cm in the same location on both limbs).
- You must be able to attend follow-up appointments at specific times during the 12 months of the trial, referred by a rehabilitation physician in the outpatient department.
Who cannot join
- The affected limb has unhealed open wounds, acute infections, or other conditions unsuitable for contact-based treatment.
- The affected limb has metastatic tumors.
- The affected limb has untreated deep vein thrombosis.
- Severe clotting abnormalities.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Taiwan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital
Kaohsiung City, 81362
Zheng-Yu Hoe, +886975581721, jhoe@vghks.gov.tw
Zheng-Yu Hoe
About this study
Lymphedema occurs not only in patients with breast cancer and gynecological cancers but also in those where lymphatic drainage is obstructed. Accumulation of lymphatic fluid within tissues results in limb swelling. Additionally, proteins present in lymphatic fluid might lead to fibrosis within tissues, causing various challenges for patients. The changes in volume and weight can significantly impact daily life activities such as eating, brushing teeth, and other routine tasks. Furthermore, it can lead to clothing difficulties and provoke unwanted attention due to aesthetic concerns.
Currently, there is no definitive treatment for lymphedema. However, prospective research has shown promising results in applying extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), originally used for musculoskeletal disorders like plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, and non-union fractures, to lymphedema patients. Similarly, Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT), widely used for pain management and muscle strengthening, has the potential for treating lymphedema as it can enhance blood circulation and stimulate muscle contractions.
This research project aims to explore the effectiveness and sustainability of using ESWT and PEMFT for lymphedema patients. By applying these therapies to lymphedema patients, this study aims to evaluate their treatment outcomes and long-term effects.
Read the detailed description
There is currently no cure for lymphedema. Literature review revealed extracorporeal shock wave therapy (previously applied to soft tissue diseases such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, frozen shoulders, and poor fracture healing) showed positive therapeutic effect for patients with lymphedema.
Another widely used therapy for pain treatment and muscle strengthening is Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT), which has the potential to be used in the treatment of lymphedema due to its ability to increase blood circulation and stimulate muscle contractions.
This study design to evaluate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on patients with lymphedema, and further explore its therapeutic effect.
- Conditions
- Lymphedema
- Being tested
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, Pulse electromagnetic field therapy, Rehabilitation
- Medical subject headings
- Lymphedema
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapyDevice
2 times/week for 12 weeks
Pulse electromagnetic field therapyDevice
2 times/week for 12 weeks
RehabilitationOther
2 times/week for 12 weeks
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| General rehabilitation therapy | Active comparator | Conducting a general rehabilitation program for lymphedema, three times a week, continuing until the end of the experiment. Receives: Other: Rehabilitation |
| ESWT therapy group | Experimental | Participants are randomly assigned to receive either shockwave therapy or electromagnetic pulse therapy. Once assigned, the treatment method is fixed and continues for 12 weeks. From week 1 to week 12, participants receive either extracorporeal shockwave therapy or electromagnetic pulse therapy three times a week, totaling 36 sessions. After the completion of the 12-week treatment, the general rehabilitation program for lymphedema continues, conducted three times a week. Receives: Device: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy |
| PEMFT therapy group | Experimental | Participants are randomly assigned to receive either shockwave therapy or electromagnetic pulse therapy. Once assigned, the treatment method is fixed and continues for 12 weeks. From week 1 to week 12, participants receive either extracorporeal shockwave therapy or electromagnetic pulse therapy three times a week, totaling 36 sessions. After the completion of the 12-week treatment, the general rehabilitation program for lymphedema continues, conducted three times a week. Receives: Device: Pulse electromagnetic field therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
circumference
Limb circumference
Measured: every 1 week, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Thickness
thickness of skin and Subcutaneous tissue
Measured: every 1 week, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Hardness
Hardness by shearwave elastography
Measured: every 1 week, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Sep 2023
- Study start8 Oct 2021
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for LymphedemaStudies 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Zheng-Yu Hoe, MD., PhD.
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Zheng-Yu Hoe, MD., PhD., Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital.
- Investigators
- Zheng Yu Hoe, MD.,PhD., Principal investigator, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital.
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06041958
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 21-CT12-01(210917-1)
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Aug 2023
- Last updated
- 31 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Lymphoedema
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06041958
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 21-CT12-01(210917-1)
- Conditions
- Lymphedema
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Zheng-Yu Hoe, MD., PhD.University, hospital or other
- Study start
- 8 Oct 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Sep 2023 (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.
Lymphedema occurs not only in patients with breast cancer and gynecological cancers but also in those where lymphatic drainage is obstructed. Accumulation of lymphatic fluid within tissues results in limb swelling. Additionally, proteins present in lymphatic fluid might lead to fibrosis within tissues, causing various challenges for patients. The changes in volume and weight can significantly impact daily life activities such as eating, brushing teeth, and other routine tasks. Furthermore, it can lead to clothing difficulties and provoke unwanted attention due to aesthetic concerns.
Currently, there is no definitive treatment for lymphedema. However, prospective research has shown promising results in applying extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), originally used for musculoskeletal disorders like plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, and non-union fractures, to lymphedema patients. Similarly, Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT), widely used for pain management and muscle strengthening, has the potential for treating lymphedema as it can enhance blood circulation and stimulate muscle contractions.
This research project aims to explore the effectiveness and sustainability of using ESWT and PEMFT for lymphedema patients. By applying these therapies to lymphedema patients, this study aims to evaluate their treatment outcomes and long-term effects.
Detailed description
There is currently no cure for lymphedema. Literature review revealed extracorporeal shock wave therapy (previously applied to soft tissue diseases such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, frozen shoulders, and poor fracture healing) showed positive therapeutic effect for patients with lymphedema.
Another widely used therapy for pain treatment and muscle strengthening is Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT), which has the potential to be used in the treatment of lymphedema due to its ability to increase blood circulation and stimulate muscle contractions.
This study design to evaluate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on patients with lymphedema, and further explore its therapeutic effect.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| General rehabilitation therapy | Active comparator | Other: RehabilitationConducting a general rehabilitation program for lymphedema, three times a week, continuing until the end of the experiment. |
| ESWT therapy group | Experimental | Device: Extracorporeal shock wave therapyParticipants are randomly assigned to receive either shockwave therapy or electromagnetic pulse therapy. Once assigned, the treatment method is fixed and continues for 12 weeks. From week 1 to week 12, participants receive either extracorporeal shockwave therapy or electromagnetic pulse therapy three times a week, totaling 36 sessions. After the completion of the 12-week treatment, the general rehabilitation program for lymphedema continues, conducted three times a week. |
| PEMFT therapy group | Experimental | Device: Pulse electromagnetic field therapyParticipants are randomly assigned to receive either shockwave therapy or electromagnetic pulse therapy. Once assigned, the treatment method is fixed and continues for 12 weeks. From week 1 to week 12, participants receive either extracorporeal shockwave therapy or electromagnetic pulse therapy three times a week, totaling 36 sessions. After the completion of the 12-week treatment, the general rehabilitation program for lymphedema continues, conducted three times a week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Participants must be at least 20 years old and have no significant cognitive, language comprehension, or communication issues, be able to understand and follow instructions, and sign the informed consent form.
- Individuals with lymphedema after treatment for breast cancer or gynecologic cancer are eligible (lymphedema is defined as a circumference difference of >2 cm in the same location on both limbs).
- You must be able to attend follow-up appointments at specific times during the 12 months of the trial, referred by a rehabilitation physician in the outpatient department.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- The affected limb has unhealed open wounds, acute infections, or other conditions unsuitable for contact-based treatment.
- The affected limb has metastatic tumors.
- The affected limb has untreated deep vein thrombosis.
- Severe clotting abnormalities.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Extracorporeal shock wave therapy2 times/week for 12 weeks | Device | ESWT therapy group |
| Pulse electromagnetic field therapy2 times/week for 12 weeks | Device | PEMFT therapy group |
| Rehabilitation2 times/week for 12 weeks | Other | General rehabilitation therapy |
Primary outcome
circumference
Time frame: every 1 week, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Limb circumference
Thickness
Time frame: every 1 week, through study completion, an average of 1 year
thickness of skin and Subcutaneous tissue
Hardness
Time frame: every 1 week, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Hardness by shearwave elastography
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 Mar 2026.
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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.
Zheng Yu Hoe, MD.,PhD. principal investigator
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, Pulse electromagnetic field therapy and Rehabilitation in people with Lymphedema, run by Zheng-Yu Hoe, MD., PhD. at 1 site in Taiwan.
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 4 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Mar 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 Taiwan. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Zheng Yu Hoe, MD.,PhD. (+886935517631, jhoe@vghks.gov.tw), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
circumference (time frame: every 1 week, through study completion, an average of 1 year). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 31 Mar 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.