The effectiveness of general magnetic therapy and low-frequency electrostatic field: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: At present, various physical therapy methods have been proposed for the rehabilitation of breast cancer patients. However, a key issue in oncological rehabilitation is that modern protocols often do not take into account functional impairments that arise during combined treatment. Yet minimizing the adverse effects and complications of radical therapy is essential for restoring the function of affected tissues, organs, and systems.

AIM: To clarify the mechanisms of action of general magnetotherapy and low-frequency electrostatic field therapy, and to justify their application starting on postoperative days 2–4 in breast cancer patients as part of two consecutive courses of medical rehabilitation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 78 female patients who underwent surgical treatment for confirmed stage IIB (T2N1M0; T3N0M0) or stage IIIA (T3N1M0; T1–2N2M0) breast cancer. The patients were divided into two groups (main and control) using simple randomization. The groups were comparable in terms of age and clinical and functional indicators, differing only in the prescription of physiotherapeutic methods during the two-stage course of medical rehabilitation.

RESULTS: It was established that two courses of medical rehabilitation in breast cancer patients, conducted in the early postoperative period (days 2–4) and again 1–1.5 months after surgery, contributed to the reduction of pain and postoperative edema, improvement in shoulder joint mobility, prevention of severe lymphedema, and enhancement of quality of life. These effects were confirmed by clinical and functional assessments, including laser Doppler flowmetry and electromyographic evaluation of shoulder muscles. Patients in the main group showed better restoration of shoulder joint mobility on the operated side.

CONCLUSION: General magnetotherapy exerts a normalizing effect on autonomic and psychoemotional status by selectively modulating hypothalamic excitability in cortical and subcortical brain structures. Low-frequency alternating electrostatic field therapy reduces the formation of protein-rich edema, normalizes neuromuscular excitability, promotes the restoration of tissue elasticity, improves functional tissue condition, and enhances local hemodynamics and microcirculation.