The Impact of Pilates Exercise on the Overall Health of Patients With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION A systematic literature review and meta-analysis investigated the impact of Pilates on pain, fatigue, sleep quality, and depression among patients with breast cancer.

LITERATURE SEARCH Eight databases were searched for studies with randomized controlled trials published between January 2017 and May 2024.

DATA EVALUATION Six studies (N = 531) were identified and reviewed.

SYNTHESIS Pilates significantly improved pain (Hedges's g = -0.634, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-1.2, -0.07], p = 0.027), indicating a medium effect size. Pilates also showed a tendency to improve fatigue (Hedges's g = -0.182, 95% CI [-0.47, 0.1], p = 0.208), with a small effect size, and sleep quality (Hedges's g = 0.335, 95% CI [-0.2, 0.87], p = 0.216), with a small to medium effect size, although these effects were not statistically significant. Results regarding the effect of Pilates on depression were mixed.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Nurses can incorporate Pilates into pain management for patients with breast cancer, providing resources and guidelines for safely practicing this type of exercise.