Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT), the gold standard for lymphedema treatment, fails to demonstrate long-term efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in reducing post-mastectomy lymphedema when used with CDT. The experimental group received LLLT and CDT (n = 7) while control group received sham laser and CDT (n = 7), twice a week for 4 to 8 weeks. Percent arm circumference difference between affected and unaffected limbs was collected over 18 months. Results revealed no statistical difference between both groups at all time periods: 1 (p = 0.902), 2 (p = 0.535), 3 (p = 0.445), 6 (p = 0.095), 12 (p = 0.537) and 18 months (p = 0.4). Further study with a larger sample size may prove more significant for long-term efficacy of LLLT.
","abstract_html":"<p>Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT), the gold standard for lymphedema treatment, fails to demonstrate long-term efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in reducing post-mastectomy lymphedema when used with CDT. The experimental group received LLLT and CDT (n = 7) while control group received sham laser and CDT (n = 7), twice a week for 4 to 8 weeks. Percent arm circumference difference between affected and unaffected limbs was collected over 18 months. Results revealed no statistical difference between both groups at all time periods: 1 (p = 0.902), 2 (p = 0.535), 3 (p = 0.445), 6 (p = 0.095), 12 (p = 0.537) and 18 months (p = 0.4). Further study with a larger sample size may prove more significant for long-term efficacy of LLLT.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bramlett, Olivia","Daysudov, Igor","Odaira, Toshi","Rodriguez, Bethany"],"institution":"The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York","degree_name":"Doctor of Physical Therapy","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":"Physical Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Susan Pivko"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-06-03T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-06-03T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:58:31Z","subjects":["Physical Therapy"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/798","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Susan Pivko"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bramlett, Olivia","Daysudov, Igor","Odaira, Toshi","Rodriguez, Bethany"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2014-06-03T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Physical Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Physical Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Physical Therapy"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/798"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT), the gold standard for lymphedema treatment, fails to demonstrate long-term efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in reducing post-mastectomy lymphedema when used with CDT. The experimental group received LLLT and CDT (n = 7) while control group received sham laser and CDT (n = 7), twice a week for 4 to 8 weeks. Percent arm circumference difference between affected and unaffected limbs was collected over 18 months. Results revealed no statistical difference between both groups at all time periods: 1 (p = 0.902), 2 (p = 0.535), 3 (p = 0.445), 6 (p = 0.095), 12 (p = 0.537) and 18 months (p = 0.4). Further study with a larger sample size may prove more significant for long-term efficacy of LLLT.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Long-Term Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Combined with Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT) in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Lymphedema: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Susan Pivko"],"dc:creator":["Bramlett, Olivia","Daysudov, Igor","Odaira, Toshi","Rodriguez, Bethany"],"dc:date.available":["2014-06-03T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT), the gold standard for lymphedema treatment, fails to demonstrate long-term efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in reducing post-mastectomy lymphedema when used with CDT. The experimental group received LLLT and CDT (n = 7) while control group received sham laser and CDT (n = 7), twice a week for 4 to 8 weeks. Percent arm circumference difference between affected and unaffected limbs was collected over 18 months. Results revealed no statistical difference between both groups at all time periods: 1 (p = 0.902), 2 (p = 0.535), 3 (p = 0.445), 6 (p = 0.095), 12 (p = 0.537) and 18 months (p = 0.4). Further study with a larger sample size may prove more significant for long-term efficacy of LLLT.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/798"],"dc:subject":["Physical Therapy"],"dc:title":["The Long-Term Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Combined with Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT) in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Lymphedema: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Physical Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Physical Therapy"],"thesis:institution_name":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:58:31Z"}