The Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, which is part of the University of Warwick, has been awarded £1.4milion to study the effect of physiotherapy on women after breast cancer surgery.

Up to two-thirds of women who have breast cancer surgery can experience shoulder problems and chronic pain after their treatment. This trial will help physiotherapists to understand the best way to treat such women.

Called the PRevention Of Shoulder ProblEms TRial (PROSPER), the results will inform national guidelines about the best way to follow-up and support women who have had surgery for breast cancer.

Usual NHS care for these women is by giving leaflets which include exercises that they can perform after their operation. The PROSPER Trial will compare the progress of women who receive this 'usual care' with those who are prescribed an individualised exercise programme by a physiotherapist.

The study will follow the progress of 350 women for one year after their treatment, starting at three breast cancer centres in September 2015. The trial will then be expanded to cover between 10-12 hospital sites from early 2016.

Experts at the University will analyse the results of questionnaires completed by the women to assess the best way to treat women at risk of shoulder problems due to their breast cancer treatment.