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. 2020 Sep 7;17(18):6511.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186511.

Resistance Training in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review of Exercise Programs

Leidy Sofía Montaño-Rojas  1 , Ena Monserrat Romero-Pérez  2 , Carlos Medina-Pérez  3 , María Mercedes Reguera-García  4 , José Antonio de Paz  5
Affiliations

Resistance Training in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review of Exercise Programs

Leidy Sofía Montaño-Rojas et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of resistance training (RT) programs for breast cancer survivors (BCS). A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, the Cochrane Breast Cancer Specialised Register of the Cochrane Library, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Scopus, with the aim of identifying all published studies on RT and BCS from 1 January 1990 to 6 December 2019, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0). Sixteen trials were included for qualitative analysis. More than half of the trials do not adequately report the characteristics that make up the exercise program. The maximal strength was the most frequently monitored manifestation of strength, evaluated mainly as one-repetition maximum (1RM). Resistance training was performed on strength-training machines, twice a week, using a load between 50% and 80% of 1RM. The trials reported significant improvement in muscle strength, fatigue, pain, quality of life, and minor changes in aerobic capacity.

Keywords: breast neoplasms; exercise prescriptions; lymphedema; physical function; quality of life; strength.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart for systematic review methodology as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RT = resistance training; RCT = randomized controlled trial.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias assessment of the randomized trials.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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