ObjectiveTo observe the effect of ultra early joint movement onthe rehabilitation of shoulder joint function in patients with breast cancer who underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).MethodsA total of 100 patients with breast cancer who underwent ALND between August 2018 and December 2019 in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University were randomly divided into the early movement group (n=50) and the ultra early movement group (n=50). Both groups received early rehabilitation intervention as recommended by the guidelines. Patients in the early movement group started the shoulder joint movement training on the 7th day after surgery, and patients in the ultra early movement group started the shoulder joint movement training on the 3rd day after surgery, 3 times a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. The changes in pain and drainage volume 3 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks after surgery and the changes of shoulder joint range of motion 1 week, 2 weeks , and 3 weeks after surgery were compared between the two groups, changes in shoulder function and quality of life 1 week and 3, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery were compared by the Constant-Murley and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) scales, respectively.ResultsThree days, 1 week, and 2 weeks after surgery, no significant difference in the pain scores or drainage volumes was observed between the two groups (P>0.05). One week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks after operation, the motion ranges of shoulder abduction, flexion, and external rotation in the ultra early movement group were significantly better than those in the early movement group (P<0.05), and the motion range of shoulder internal rotation 1 week after operation in the ultra early movement group was significantly better than that in the early movement group (P<0.05). One week and 3, 6, and 12 weeks after operation, the Constant-Murley scores in the ultra early movement group were 25.9±4.3, 55.4±5.3, 64.6±4.5, and 73.3±4.6, respectively, which were better than those in the early movement group (21.3±3.8, 48.9±7.8, 57.3±4.7, and 70.7±3.0, respectively; P<0.05). No significant difference in the SF-36 scale scores was observed between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsUltra early joint movement can significantly improve the motion range and functions of shoulder joint in patients with breast cancer who underwent ALND. What’s more, ultra early joint movement does not increase the early drainage volume or pain, and has no significant impact on the later quality of life. It is worthy of clinical application.