Table 3: Studies involving Pilates method in breast cancer survivors.

Reference Intervention (type/duration) Study design Main outcomes Comments/results (group by time interactions reported for the controlled studies and time effects for non-controlled studies) Stan et al. [73], 2012 Mat Pilates 12 weeks, 45′ sessions, 3–5x/week Postmastectomy One arm 15 All had mastectomy Shoulder ROM Spine flexibility Height Arm volumes QOL (FACT-B) Mood (POMS) Body image (MBSRQ) Improved shoulder abduction and internal rotation *   Improved neck flexion and rotation towards the unaffected side*   No difference in spine flexibility and height Increased arm volume  of  the affected compared to the unaffected side (subclinical lymphedema in 6 patients)*   Improved QOL and certain scales of mood and body image* Eyigor et al. [74], 2010 Mat Pilates plus home exercise (walking, stretching, and ROM) versus home exercises 8 weeks, 60′ sessions, 3x/week RCT 52 All had mastectomy Aerobic capacity (6MWT) Flexibility (modified sit and reach test) Fatigue (BFI) Depression (BDI) QOL (EORTC-QLQ-C30 and B23) Improved aerobic capacity *   No difference in the other outcomes

6MWT: 6-Minute Walk Test; BFI: Brief fatigue Inventory; BDI: Beck Depression Index; BPI: Brief Pain Inventory; EORTC-QLQ-C30: European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer-Quality of Life; FACT-B: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapies-Breast; MBSRQ: Multidimensional Body-Self-Relations Questionnaire; POMS: Profile of Mood States-Short Form; UE: Upper Extremity; bold text with*: statistically significant ().