The effect of Pilates exercises on breast cancer: A review study

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women and the second most common cancer worldwide. Despite the measures taken to control it, the prevalence of this disease is still increasing. The disease itself and the side effects of its clinical treatments lead to impaired quality of life. Methods: In this review, articles were searched through databases such as SID, Civilica , Pubmed, Google scholar with the keywords Pilates, breast cancer, physical activity, quality of life without time limit. Articles that were in languages other than Persian and English and articles whose full text was not available were excluded from the study. Finally, out of ۲۵ articles found, ۱۴ Persian and English articles related to the title were reviewed. Results: The benefits of physical activity for women with breast cancer have been proven. Meanwhile, studies show that Pilates largely avoids high impact, high power output, and heavy muscular and skeletal loading. These exercises improve the range of motion of the upper limbs, increase muscle strength, reduce the severity of edema, improve body image, improve mood, reduce pain and fatigue, and thus reduce the rate of depression and increase the functional ability of women. These factors can even reduce the chance of the disease coming back. Conclusion: Pilates, in addition to standard treatment, is considered an effective and safe rehabilitation method. Therefore, by training and encouraging this type of exercise, the physical, psychological and social problems of women with breast cancer can be improved.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pilates ، breast cancer ، quality of life ، physical activity