The aim of this study was to evaluate the reduction in volume of lymphedematous arms using an association of low elastic compression and active exercises controlled using a facilitating device. Eighteen female patients with arm lymphedema resulting from the treatment of breast cancer (surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy) were randomly included in a rehabilitation group. The mean age of the women was 57.8 years old. The participants were submitted to two one-hour sessions of active exercises, one while using a low elastic compression sleeve and the other without compression. The active exercise session associated with compression therapy significantly reduced the volume of the lymphedematous limb (p-value = 0.001) but no significant change was observed without compression (p-value = 0.6). Low elastic compression has a synergistic effect with controlled active exercises in reducing the volume of lymphedematous arms.
