Effect of Resistance Exercise in Postmastectomy Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) impacts over 1.2 million individuals every year worldwide and is the most frequently diagnosed illness in women. Medical treatment options have increased chances of survival, but these procedures frequently have side effects that can negatively impact health status and quality of life (QoL) over the long term QoL. Given that resistance exercise has a special anabolic effect; it may be useful for addressing the effects of BC and its therapy. Materials and Methods: This is an integrative literature review study that includes data search from PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the physiotherapy evidence database databases for articles and also crossing English descriptors indexed in the medical subject headings and health sciences descriptors, respectively. The present review is based on the Whittemore and Knafl methodology. Results: A total of 842 patients from 13 studies were included. There was no aggravation subjectively reported or objectively evaluated lymphedema symptoms. Adverse effects were uncommon, mostly of a musculoskeletal in nature, and were successfully handled using conservative methods. The studies we looked at indicate that women who had BC surgically treated can benefit from resistance exercise in terms of their clinical and health outcomes. Results demonstrate that in cancer survivors, pain, physical and emotional functioning, fatigue, depression, and aerobic capacity have improved. Conclusion: It is necessary to conduct rigorously constructed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that recommend targeted resistance exercise regimens at various stages of BC treatment. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this intervention for the posttreatment care of BC patients and survivors as a method of enhancing health status and QoL, RCTs with complete, standardized reporting of interventions, and adverse events are necessary.