The effect of Pilates exercise plus CDT on heaviness, and cardiorespiratory fitness complications in women with breast cancer treatment related lymphedema:Aclinical randomized trial

 Lymphedema due to breast cancer is one of the most challenging complications of breast cancer treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Pilates combined with standard complete decongestive therapy (CDT) on heaviness and cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer patients with lymphedema.

Thirty breast cancer patients with lymphedema were included in this randomized double-blind study. Patients were randomly and equally assigned into two groups: Pilates plus CDT group (n=15) and control group (CDT only). All patients were treated with CDT for six weeks (acute phase for 3weeks and maintenance phase for 3 weeks). Heaviness and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed by visual numerical scale and Rockport walking test respectively. Then, the changes and consequences were evaluated before and after treatment in both groups. Analysis of covariance was performed.

The mean age (SD) of patients in the study was 56.3 (6.1) years. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of clinical and demographic variables. The results showed that the severity of heaviness was significantly reduced in both treatment groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between groups (p=0.37). Cardiopulmonary fitness (Vo2peak) increased before and after exercise intervention between control and experimental groups and a statistically significant difference was observed (p=0.038).

No adverse effect of Pilates exercise was observed among the participants in this study and the intervention improved the cardiorespiratory fitness. The results of current study suggest that Pilates can be considered as effective intervention along with CDT for treatment of lymphedema.