Benefits of physical activity on pain, fatigue, and lymphedema in women diagnosed with breast cancer.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2025v7n10p921-945Keywords:
Câncer de mama, Atividade Física, Fadiga, Dor, LinfedemaAbstract
ABSTRACT
Breast cancer represents one of the leading causes of female mortality worldwide and in Brazil, being associated with adverse effects resulting from treatments, such as fatigue, pain, and lymphedema, which compromise quality of life. In this context, physical exercise has emerged as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for managing these symptoms.
This study aimed to evaluate, through an integrative literature review, the benefits of physical activity in controlling the side effects associated with breast cancer treatment, with emphasis on pain, lymphedema, and fatigue, as well as to identify the most effective types of physical activities for managing these conditions.
The bibliographic search was conducted between September 2024 and February 2025 in the PubMed, Scopus, and BVS databases, using descriptors registered in DeCS/MeSH: “breast neoplasms,” “physical exercise,” “fatigue,” “pain,” and “lymphedema.” Articles published between 2020 and 2025 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish were included. After screening and methodological analysis, 36 studies were selected for the review.
The results showed that fatigue was the most frequently addressed symptom, appearing in 61.11% of the articles, followed by pain (13.89%) and lymphedema (5.56%). Interventions with aerobic exercise, either alone or combined with resistance training, demonstrated consistent effects in reducing fatigue. Resistance and muscle strengthening protocols also stood out, providing long-lasting benefits. Regarding pain, modalities such as aquatic exercise, aerobic training, and scapular strengthening presented positive outcomes. Although less studied, lymphedema responded positively to functional, aerobic, and resistance exercises, without worsening of the condition.
It is concluded that regular physical exercise exerts relevant therapeutic effects in reducing fatigue, alleviating pain, and controlling lymphedema in breast cancer patients, when properly guided. Thus, reinforcing the role of physical activity as a safe, effective, and complementary non-pharmacological strategy in the care of women with breast cancer.
Keywords: Breast cancer. Physical activity. Fatigue. Pain. Lymphedema.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Vitoória Pereira Oliveira, José Mansamo Bauman, André Luiz Gomes Carneiro, Larissa Betânia Lacerda Araújo De Carvalho, Camila Ribeiro Ferreira, Walter Luiz De Moura, Brunna Librelon Costa, Claudiana Donato Bauman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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