Effectiveness of Pilates-based exercises on the diastasis recti abdominis in climacteric women: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Recent studies have related the climacteric period with changes in connective tissue elasticity that may be related to diastasis recti abdominis. Mat Pilates is a method of exercise without impact that currently has more practitioners, due to its satisfactory results. However, there are no studies that evaluate the effectiveness of mat Pilates for women with diastasis recti abdominis. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the mat Pilates program in climacteric women with diastasis recti abdominis. Methods: This randomized single-blinded clinical trial evaluated climacteric women with diastasis recti abdominis. The participants were randomized into the experimental group, which participated in 3 weekly sessions of mat Pilates for 12 weeks for a total of 36 sessions, and the control group (without exercises). The inter-rectus distance was measured with a digital caliper. The G*Power Version 3.1.9.2. software was used for the sample calculation, and the SPSS 20.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Results: The study comprised 21 women, including 10 in the control group and 11 in the experimental group, with mean ages of 54.3 ± 7.1 and 55.3 ± 6.0 years and body mass index values of 28.8 ± 5.5 kg/m2 and 29.9 ± 4.48 kg/m2, respectively. In the experimental group, reductions were observed in all the measures related to diastasis recti abdominis (p<0.05) in the supraumbilical, umbilical, and infra-umbilical regions. Conclusion: The mat Pilates method is effective for reducing diastasis recti abdominis in the climacteric period.

Musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, anthropometric and sensorial changes following breast cancer surgery / Alterações musculoesquelética, cardiorrespiratória, antropométrica e sensorial após cirurgia de câncer de mama

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer is the second most common malignant neoplasm in women. Surgical intervention is one of the recommended treatments, which can lead to significant physical and sensorial sequelae. Objective: To analyze the musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, anthropometric and sensorial functions of women who underwent breast cancer surgery. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study with women who underwent surgical resection of breast tumors at Amaral Carvalho, a reference hospital in the countryside of the São Paulo State, Jaú/SP, Brazil. Three assessments were obtained: pre-surgery (Ass1), one day after the surgery (Ass2) and 15 days after surgery (Ass3). Sociodemographic and gynecological data were collected, and anthropometric, cardiovascular, dermal sensitivity, range of motion (ROM) of the upper limbs, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), inspiratory muscle strength (PImax), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and thoraco-abdominal mobility assessments were performed. Data were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA and Wilcoxon statistical test with a Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05). Results: Eighteen women, with a mean age of 57.44 ± 9.35 years, mainly with the left side affected (61.1%) and lymphadenectomy performed in 50% of the cases. Differences were found in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, PEF and SpO2, axillary ROM index (Ass1>Ass2), PImax (Ass3>Ass2), perimetry (Ass2>Ass3), ROM in all axes of shoulder motion and wrist flexion (Ass2<Ass1), and sensitivity alteration close to the surgical wound (Ass3>Ass2 and Ass1). Conclusion: The surgery for breast cancer excision resulted in hemodynamic and respiratory changes, especially on the first day after the procedure, returning to baseline values approximately 15 days later.

Resumo Introdução: O câncer de mama é a segunda neoplasia maligna mais encontrada entre as mulheres, sendo a intervenção cirúrgica um dos tratamentos preconizados, o que pode acarretar sequelas físicas e sensoriais importantes. Objetivo: Analisar as funções musculoes-queléticas, cardiorrespiratórias, antropométricas e sensoriais de mulheres submetidas ao procedimento cirúrgico para neoplasia mamária. Métodos: Estudo observacional e transversal com mulheres que realizaram procedimento cirúrgico para ressecção de neoplasia mamária assistidas no interior paulista, Jaú/SP. Foram realizadas três avaliações: pré-cirurgia (AV1), um dia (AV2) e 15 dias após a cirurgia (AV3). Foram coletadas informações sociodemográficas e ginecológicas e realizadas avaliações antropométrica, cardiovascular, sensibilidade dérmica, amplitude de movimento (ADM) dos membros superiores, saturação periférica de oxigênio (SpO2), força muscular inspiratória (PImax), pico de fluxo expiratório (PFE) e mobilidade toracoabdominal. Os dados foram avaliados pelo teste estatístico ANOVA de medidas repetidas e Wilcoxon com correção de Bonferroni (p < 0,05). Resultados: Dezoito mulheres, de 57,44 ± 9,35 anos, tiveram o lado esquerdo mais acometido (61,1%) e a linfonodectomia foi realizada em 50% dos casos. Houve diferenças nas variáveis pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica, PFE e SpO2, índice de amplitude axilar (AV1>AV2), PImax (AV3>AV2), perimetria (AV2>AV3), ADM em todos os eixos de movimento do ombro e em flexão de punho (AV2<AV1) e alteração de sensibilidade próxima à cicatriz (AV3>AV2 e AV1). Conclusão: A cirurgia para exerese de neoplasia mamária acarretou alterações principalmente hemodinâmicas e respiratórias, sobremaneira no primeiro dia após a cirurgia, retornando aos valores basais aproxi-madamente 15 dias após o procedimento.