While elevation of the upper limb (n=116; 80%), physical exercise (n=108; 74%) and lymphatic autodrainage (n=76; 52%) turned out to be the best-known preventive measures of lymphedema among our participants, appropriate hygiene of the skin and nails (n=32; 22%) and maintenance of due body weight (n=15; 10%) were considered markedly less often.
The beneficial effects of physical exercise, autodrainage and frequent elevation of the upper limb at the operated side are often emphasized in literature [31, 37].
General knowledge of the principles of lymphedema prevention Yes No n (%) n (%) 121 (83%) 24 (17%) Knowledge of the specific principles of lymphedema prevention Frequent Physical Autodrainage Skin and Maintenance elevation exercise n (%) nail of due body of limb n (%) hygiene weight n (%) n (%) n (%) 116 (80%) 108 (74%) 76 (52%) 32 (22%) 15 (10%) Adherence to the specific principles of lymphedema prevention Always Often Sometimes Rarely Never n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) 6 (4%) 71 (49%) 31 (21%) 16 (11%) 3 (2%) Table 4.