The Effects of Pilates on Upper Extremity Function, Lymphedema, Mood, and Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer : A Systematic Review

Background: Breast Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Considering the lifestyle of women with breast cancer, Pilates may be beneficial as a complementary intervention to standard therapeutic exercise. However, few recommendations are available with guidelines for Pilates programs for breast cancer survivors. Objective: This study aims to systematically review previous studies to assess the effects of Pilates on upper extremity function, lymphedema, depression, and quality of life compared to those with other forms of exercise and standard treatment for women with breast cancer. Method: We searched the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Medline via Pubmed for relevant publications through March 2022. The keywords “breast cancer” and “Pilates” were used as keywords, and randomized controlled trials and single-subject studies were included. Results: Thirteen studies were reviewed. Our results show that improvements in the Pilates groups were better than those in groups engaging in home-based exercise or no exercise at all. The Pilates groups showed improvements in upper extremity function including muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion, as well as improvements in the quality of life score, and reductions in the severity of lymphedema that were greater than other groups. Conclusion: Pilates can complement traditional treatment programs as a safe model. This systematic review provides valuable information for further studies.