Introduction Upper-limb dysfunction commonly occurs after breast cancer surgery and can impair the quality of life. Traditional Chinese exercises are a category of mind-body practices derived from traditional Chinese culture and exercise traditions.
They involve physical postures, breathing techniques and mental focus and have the potential to improve postoperative upper limb function. This protocol outlines the methods used for a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating traditional Chinese exercises for upper limb dysfunction following breast cancer surgery.
Methods and analysis Randomised controlled trials evaluating traditional Chinese exercises for upper-limb dysfunction among individuals following breast cancer surgery will be searched in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Web of Science (Clarivate), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database (Wanfangdata), VIP Database (cqvip), and China Biology Medicine Database (Sinomed) from inception to April 2026. The search strategy combined terms for participants (eg, breast neoplasms), interventions (eg, Tai Chi, Baduanjin and Qigong) and study design (randomised controlled trials).
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 18 May 2026.
The item focuses on Effects of traditional Chinese exercises for upper-limb dysfunction following breast cancer surgery: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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