Effect of Twelve Weeks Concurrent Yoga and Pilates Training on Glucose Homeostasis and Insulin Resistance in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Clinical Trial Study

Breast cancer survivors are in danger of elevated insulin resistance and hyperglycemia due to chemotherapy and surgery side effects and inactivity. Exercise can improve glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to assess the effect of twelve weeks concurrent Yoga and Pilates training on glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance in breast cancer survivors.

This randomized clinical trial was performed on 24 breast cancer survivors in Rasht, Iran, in 2020. The participants were randomly devided into control or case groups. The case group (n=13) underwent 12 weeks of concurrent Yoga and Pilates exercise training, 3 sessions per week.  The control group (n=11) did their routine daily activities. Weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured before and after 12 weeks of exercise in either groups. Data was analyzed using multivariate covariance test and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test.

Twelve-week concurrent exercise caused significant decrease in weight (p=0.002), BMI (p=0.002) and HbA1C (p=0.050). However, there was no significant effect on FBS or HOMA-IR (p>0.05).

According to the results of the current study which showed the positive effect of this exercise program on weight control and glucose homeostasis in breast cancer survivors, concurrent Yoga and Pilates training can probably be a good exercise program in these patients.