Impact of Pilates Method on Myofascial Stiffness, Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Women

The effectiveness of breast cancer treatment is quite well documented. Still, side effects can underpin other treatment-induced diseases such as osteopenia, diabetes, and especially cardiovascular dysfunction. Therefore, finding a method that could partly counteract these side effects and at the same time be implemented throughout treatment is a challenge for researchers. The main purpose of this experimental, randomized control trial was to analyze the effect of the Pilates Method (PM) intervention on changing the myofascial stiffness along the thoracic and lumbar spine, cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life in women with breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy. The apllied procedure of 12 -week PM training included the training intervention based on hypothesis: * PM reduces myofascial stiffness along the thoracic and lumbar spine of women with breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy * PM improves the cardiorespiratory fitness of women with breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy * PM improves the quality of life of women with breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy. Possible practical applications include the domains of exercise medicine, physical activity in cancer and public health.