Many women experience scarring, adhesions and/or contractures which restrict movement after they receive surgery/radiation for breast cancer. Often, women suffer needlessly with this restricted movement because they are unaware that there is treatment available to eliminate scar tissue and restore normal movement.

A clinical research study just published in Rehabilitation Oncology, the official journal of the oncology section of the American Physical Therapy Association, documents how ASTYM treatment can effectively restore movement by removing scar tissue in women who had undergone either a single or bilateral mastectomy.

The study focuses on the thickened scar tissue and hypersensitive soft tissue adhesions that develop following mastectomy and other treatment for breast cancer. These difficulties are often left untreated, leaving many women to suffer with tight scar tissue, poor flexibility, swelling, decreased range of motion, and pain.

ASTYM treatment stimulates the resorption of restrictive scar tissue, adhesions, and contractures, and also stimulates the regeneration of healthy tissue in affected areas. After ASTYM treatment, women reported that their pain decreased, hyper-sensitivity to clothing lessened and their function improved. At the outset of the study, the majority of women were unable to wear a bra due to hyper-sensitivity, however after ASTYM treatment, 100% of the women reported that they could wear a bra.

 The study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of ASTYM on range of motion and perception of functional ability in women who underwent surgery and other treatment for breast cancer.  Results of the study show that ASTYM is effective in returning women to their prior functional status following surgery. 

The entire Rehabilitation Oncology article on this research study is available here.