Pilates impact on Breast Cancer Treatment Recovery
1. Effectiveness of Pilates in cancer patients for pain and functionality measures: A systematic review
Summary: This systematic review aimed to assess whether Pilates-based interventions improve pain, functionality, and quality of life in adult cancer patients compared to conventional treatments. The review found that Pilates can significantly enhance shoulder mobility, muscle strength, physical well-being, and pain reduction—particularly among breast cancer patients and survivors. While improvements in fatigue, stress, sleep, and depression were less consistent, the overall evidence suggests Pilates offers meaningful physical and functional benefits for cancer patients.
Citation: Quintero-Lopez, D. S., Rosero, I. D., Guil, R., Fernández-Huerta, L., & Ordoñez-Mora, L. T. (2025). Effectiveness of Pilates in cancer patients for pain and functionality measures: A systematic review. European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society, 78, 102968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2025.102968
2. The Effects of a Pilates Exercise Program on Pain, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors One Year Postsurgery
Summary: This study investigated whether a Pilates-based intervention could improve pain, functional capacity and quality of life in women who were at least one-year post-surgery for breast cancer. 44 breast cancer survivors completed 24 sessions of a 60-minute Pilates exercise program twice weekly; outcomes were measured at baseline, after 12 sessions and at completion (24 sessions). The findings showed that after 24 sessions, scores improved by about 61 %, pain scores significantly decreased, and quality of life significantly improved — suggesting that Pilates can be an effective rehabilitation strategy for this population.
Citation: Ferreira de Rezende, L., Thesolim, B. L., Dias de Souza, S., Bellotto Leme Nagib, A., & Fonseca Vilas Boas, V. (2022). The Effects of a Pilates Exercise Program on Pain, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors One Year Postsurgery. Oncology nursing forum, 49(2), 125–131. https://doi.org/10.1188/22.ONF.125-131
3. Pilates for women with breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Pilates as a rehabilitation method for women with breast cancer, focusing on outcomes such as pain, upper-extremity function, range of motion, and quality of life. The authors analyzed seven studies published up to January 2017. Overall, Pilates was found to help reduce pain and improve self-reported upper-extremity function in breast cancer survivors. However, its effects on shoulder range of motion and quality of life were not significantly greater than those of other exercise interventions, suggesting that while Pilates offers meaningful physical benefits, it may be comparable to other forms of rehabilitation exercise.
Citation: Pinto-Carral, A., Molina, A. J., de Pedro, Á., & Ayán, C. (2018). Pilates for women with breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary therapies in medicine, 41, 130–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.011
4. Effectiveness of Pilates-based exercises on upper extremity disorders related with breast cancer treatment
Summary: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a Pilates-based exercise program (PE) compared to combined exercise (CE: strengthening, stretching, ROM) and a home exercise (HE) regimen in 55 women who had upper-extremity impairments following breast cancer treatment. The study measured pain, range of motion, muscle strength, and functional status both before and after the interventions. It found that both the PE and CE groups showed significant improvements in nearly all outcomes, and while improvements in the PE group were similar to the CE group, both were superior to the HE group; thus, Pilates-based exercises appear to be an effective alternative rehabilitation option for upper-extremity disorders in this population.
Citation: Zengin Alpozgen, A., Razak Ozdincler, A., Karanlik, H., Yaman Agaoglu, F., & Narin, A. N. (2017). Effectiveness of Pilates-based exercises on upper extremity disorders related with breast cancer treatment. European journal of cancer care, 26(6), 10.1111/ecc.12532. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.12532
OUR SUMMARY: Across research studies there is strong evidence to support using Pilates to optimize breast cancer treatment rehabilitation, specifically with regards to shoulder mobility. It has shown to be comparable to physical therapy regimens and better than home programs. In addition to improved mobility, strength, and function, evidence shows overall improvement in patients mood and quality of life.