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Goal: To assess the impact of chemoradiation on pelvic floor (PF) muscle function after the treatment of cervical cancer (CC). Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of women between the ages of 20 and 70 years old who had a diagnosis of CC. Patients were treated with chemoradiation at the Barretos Cancer Hospital (BCH), between August 2016 and July 2017. We performed three evaluations at different time points after chemoradiation treatment to compare changes in muscle function. Pelvic floor muscle function was assessed through perineometry (PNM) and surface electromyography (EMG) at the following time points: Pretreatment Moment 1 (M1): evaluated before chemoradiation; Moment 2 (M2): at the first follow-up medical visit (usually 3 to 4 months after treatment); and Moment 3 (M3): at the second follow-up medical visit (usually after 6 to 9 months after treatment). Mean vaginal squeeze pressure levels were determined by PNM and muscle electromyographic activity by EMG and the results were evaluated by Generalized Linear Model comparisons. Results: Forty-nine patients were evaluated at M1; 35 at M2; and 32 at M3, so that 32 patients had all three muscle evaluations performed. There was a statistically significant increase in the frequency of women with urgency urinary incontinence at the M2 evaluation time (41.9%), compared to pretreatment M1 (18.6%), p<0.001. The means of the vaginal squeeze pressures reduced through M1 to M3 in the phasic (M1: 17.7 mmHg; M3: 11.27mmHg) and tonic contractions (M1: 10.56 mmHg; M3: 7.52mmHg), p = 0.01 and p = 0.03 respectively. There was no difference in pelvic floor function in the three evaluations M1-M3, measured by EMG. The pelvic floor strength assessed by PMN and their interactions with anthropometric, parity and hormonal status variables, showed that a high body mass index (BMI) significantly influenced decreases in pelvic floor muscle function before and after treatment. Conclusion: These results show that chemoradiation causes reduction of muscle function of the pelvic floor, especially in the late phase after the end of treatment. Both the high BMI and urgent urinary incontinence symptoms were related to decreased muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in survival of women treated for breast cancer, it is necessary to evaluate the effect of therapeutic resources on co-morbidities resulting from the surgical treatment of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on the functionality and lymphatic circulation of the upper limb involved in the treatment of breast cancer. The study was conducted according to randomized clinical trial design. Thirty-two women at a mean age of 52.20 (±8.32) years, submitted to breast cancer treatment, divided into two groups, control - women submitted to standard breast cancer treatment, and treated group, composed of women who underwent breast cancer treatment and rehabilitation with the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique. Palmar grip strength with dynamometer and shoulder range of motion with goniometer were evaluated. Lymphatic circulation analysis was performed in a computerized scintillation chamber, before and after therapeutic intervention. In the results obtained, a significant increase (p < 0.05) of palmar grip strength was observed, a significant increase in range of motion of flexion (p < 0.001), extension (p < 0.0012), abduction (p < 0.0001), external rotation (p < 0.0001), internal rotation (p < 0.0001), and not significant for lymphatic flow (p > 0.05). The results obtained in this study allow us to conclude that proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation favors an increase in muscle strength, range of motion, but not in lymphatic flow, in women undergoing surgical treatment for breast cancer. • Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation favors the increase of muscle strength. • Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation favors the increase of range of motion. • Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation no favors the increase of lymphatic flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]