People in physiotherapy jobs may have a new role in helping cancer patients recover from surgery.

A new report from the Spanish Health Ministry suggests that visiting a physiotherapist can help prevent lymphoedema, a condition that affects nearly 25% of people after a breast cancer operation. Lymphoedema is a swelling caused by the amputation of the lymph glands, which often occurs during such surgery.

Whilst the condition can vary in severity in terms of appearance, reduced mobility and discomfort, it is very hard to treat. Once a woman develops the condition, they may never be free of it. Because of this, surgeons try to avoid removing the lymph glands unless it is necessary, but this is often the case.

Until now, no research had shown that any particular treatment could help prevent lymphoedema from developing in women following surgery. This latest study, though relatively small, found that the number of those developing the condition fell from 25 in 100 to 7 in 100 for those receiving physiotherapy three times a week for three weeks following surgery.

To help prevent lymphoedema, people in physiotherapy jobs will need to be trained in new, specialised treatment techniques. This involves teaching the women to do shoulder exercises, as well as a specific form of massage on the patient's arms.

The research was unclear as to which aspect of the physiotherapy was most important in preventative treatment, but is an encouraging start to preventing lymphoedema.