arthralgia is a common symptom after treatment with hormone therapy for breast cancer and can lead to several complications, including loss of flexibility. Studies have recommended performing the Pilates exercise to minimize morbidities resulting from cancer treatment.

to evaluate flexibility after 16 weeks of Pilates exercise in women with arthralgia after hormone therapy for breast cancer.

observational study, carried out at the physiotherapy clinic of the High Complexity Oncology Unit. Women with complaints of arthralgia during hormone therapy and who participated in a Mat Pilates exercise program (twice a week for 16 weeks) were included, and women with active cancer or who did not complete the 16 weeks of exercise were excluded. Flexibility was evaluated through the “sit-and-reach test” using the SANNY Instant Unisex Pro Portable Wells Bench. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism. The data were submitted to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, followed by the paired t-test (parametric data) or the Wilcoxon test for repeated measures (non-parametric data), considering a significance level of 5%.

eight women with a mean age of 57.25±12.61 completed the 16 weeks of performing the Pilates exercise, 5 using hormone therapy with Tamoxifen and 3 using Anastrozole. The women had mean and standard deviation for flexibility of 18.12±5.66 at the beginning and 22.75±6.88 after 16 weeks of Pilates exercise (p=0.004). The group that used Tamoxifen presented flexibility of 16.7±4.99 before and 21.4±7.57 after Pilates (p=0.04) and the group using Anastrozole presented flexibility of 20.5± 7 before and 25±6.26 after Pilates (p=0.16).

There was greater flexibility in women after performing the Pilates exercise.

Pilates exercises have the potential to improve the flexibility of women undergoing cancer treatment. However, randomized controlled trials, with a significant sample, are needed for better scientific evidence of the effects of Pilates exercise on the flexibility of women with arthralgia.