The effect of mastectomy on baropodometric parameters for breast cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: mastectomy after breast cancer produces several postural and biomechanical alterations in the frontal and sagittal plane. Such changes lead to disturbed kinematics of the spine, muscle imbalance and altered foot weight bearing. This study aims to describe body balance alterations after mastectomy based on the baropodometric analysis of their mean pressure and static load.

Methodology: a descriptive correlational research was carried out. Foot weight-bearing properties were identified in 17 patients who have undergone a mastectomy. An Ecosanit Foot pressure plate was used to measure foot load at anatomical position and keeping the feet together.

Results: 17 female patients who had undergo mastectomy with a mean age of 54.16 years took part on the research. Patients who have had a dominant-side mastectomy demonstrated significant greater mean pressure at anatomical position when compared to those patients who have had a non-dominant side mastectomy (227.2 ± 22.16 versus 175.6 ± 14.95, p =0.05). There was no significant difference for static load between the patients who have had a dominant side mastectomy and patients who have had a non dominant side mastectomy at anatomical position (52.43 ± 4.069 versus 49.69 ± 4.094, respectively).

Conclusion: the current results of our research showed the unbalanced weight distribution in patients after mastectomy. Consequently, it describes the postural and muscular alterations, and the static and dynamic imbalance in breast cancer patients.