The Effect of Eight Weeks Pilatese Training on Some of White Blood Cells in Breast Cancer Patients

One of the recommended exercises for breast cancer patients is Pilates, which, although is useful in some aspects, but its effect on the immune system is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of Pilates exercises on immune factors in women with breast cancer.

Participants of the study included 30 breast cancer patients aged 30–57 years who participated in the study voluntarily and were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n = 18) and control (n = 12). Finally, according to the exclusion criteria, participants were studied in two groups of exercise (n = 15) and control (n = 8). The exercise group performed Pilates training for eight weeks, three days a week, for 60 minutes per session. Blood samples were taken from the two groups at baseline and 48 hours after the exercise training.

The variables in the two groups of exercise (n= 15, age: 40.66± 6.30 years, BMI: 26.67± 5.27 kg/m2) and control (n= 8, age: 49.12± 7.31± 31 years, BMI: 28.96± 4.03 kg/m2) were compared. The results showed that Pilates training had no significant effect on neutrophil at baseline (51.58± 5.77) and post intervention (56.75± 8.69) compared with the control group at baseline (53.87± 5.11) and post intervention (52.87± 3.22) (P= 0.19). Pilates training had no effect on Lymphocyte at baseline (40.25± 7.50) and post intervention (37.75± 10.04), compared with the control group at baseline (36.86± 6.74) and post intervention (37.87± 5.64), (P= 0.84). Also, Pilates training had no significant effect on the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes in the exercise group at baseline (1.34± 0.37) and post intervention (1.64± 0.59) compared to the control group at baseline (1.52± 0.40) and post intervention (1.42± 0.25) (P= 0.23).

Breast cancer patients can participate in Pilates exercises without any side effects on the immune system. Still, the intensity of these exercises may not have been enough to improve immune function.