<p>Background: Secondary arm lymphoedema is a chronic condition which affects a significant number of women and requires ongoing management. Aims: To pilot a new handheld massage unit which delivered vibration to the arm tissues and can be used in the home environment.</p>n<p>Methods: Women with established arm lymphoedema secondary to breast cancer treatment used the handheld massage unit for 25 minutes each evening for one month. Measurements including bioimpedance (arm and truncal fluid volume), perometry (total arm volume), tonometry (tissue compliance) and subjective arm symptoms were taken at baseline, at the end of week 1, 2, 3 and 4 and at one-month follow-up.</p>n<p>Results: After four weeks, there was a reduction in arm fluid of 51mls. Subanalysis demonstrated that participants who were overweight, had had multiple sights irradiated or who were moderately compliant with the regime experienced significant reductions in arm fluid volume (90mls; p=0.015, 74mls; p=0.018 and 69mls; p=0.019, respectively). Participants also reported significant improvements in limb size (p=0.007) and range of movement (p=0.000).</p>n<p>Conclusions: The application of vibrational massage via a handheld unit may help women to maintain their arm lymphoedema in the home environment.</p>n<p>Declaration of interest: This study was funded by Cyprossage Pty Ltd (Queensland, Australia) with the financial aspects of the study managed by Flinders Consulting Pty Ltd (South Australia, Australia).</p>
