Axillary Web Syndrome

AXILLARY WEB SYNDROME (AWS)

Axillary Web syndrome (aws), which is also known as CORDING, occurs in some patients following breast cancer surgery.

• Cording develops in the axilla (arm pit). Here the skin covers cords of tissue and this can be felt when palpating (touching) the tissues within the arm pit.
• This condition involves shoulder flexion (bending of the arm upward), and abduction (moving the arm away from the body) during the activities of daily living.
• These tissues become painful when the arm is raised in an upward movement.
• This condition is more common in slender women and it

Most often, these symptoms of AWS are documented during the first and eighth weeks after the start of treatment.

References:

Jodi Winicour,  PT. CMT, CLT-LANA
Karen J.  Block, MPT, CWS, CLT-LANA

@ Copyright Lymph Notes 2015. The advice of a physician, overrides the information in this article.

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Category: What is Lymphedema? Updated: 2015-06-10