IntroductionThe study investigated the effects of hatha yoga on range of motion and strength in women with breast cancer.MethodsA total of 93 patients completed the study. Their mean age was 57.53 ± 1.92 years in the yoga group and 58.10 ± 1.17 years in the control group. The yoga group (<i>n</i> = 48) received hatha yoga intervention for 3 months; the control group (<i>n</i> = 45) received current best practice care, including recommendation about compression sleeves, skin protection, and care of the affected arm. The control group was offered hatha yoga intervention after the final measurement. The outcomes were dynamometry and shoulder range of motion to analyse the functional capacity of the affected upper limb.ResultsAfter 3 months of performing hatha yoga, the active shoulder range of motion improved significantly in the affected limb and was significantly higher than in the control group: by 76.76° for flexion (<i>p</i> < 0.001), by 18.92° for extension (<i>p</i> < 0.001), by 80.21° for abduction (<i>p</i> < 0.001), by 33.29° for internal rotation (<i>p</i> < 0.001), by 27.36° for external rotation (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Strength for wrist flexion and power index in the affected limb improved by 6.0 kg (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and 8.25% (<i>p</i> < 0.001), respectively, in the yoga group and only by 1.1 kg (<i>p</i> > 0.05) and 1.44% (<i>p</i> > 0.05) in the control group.ConclusionsHatha yoga is more beneficial than usual care for improving active shoulder range of motion and upper limb strength.

Introduction.The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of 2 different exercise regimens on cardiovascular fitness in women with breast cancer. Methods. A total of 110 women consented to take part in the study but only 102 met the inclusion criteria and were involved (8 patients did not meet the research criteria and were excluded); 95 women completed the interventions and were included in the final analysis. The patients' mean age was 57.53 ± 1.92 years for group A and 58.00 ± 1.27 years for group B. The participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups. Group A (n = 48) received hatha yoga intervention and group B (n = 47) received Pilates intervention for 3 months. impedance cardiography was used to measure pre-and post-intervention functional capacity of the cardiovascular system. Results. Post-intervention impact was observed for both intervention approaches, but better improvement was noted in the group of hatha yoga than that of Pilates. The actual values of stroke volume and left ventricular power were significantly higher in group A compared with group B by 6.05 ml/beat (p < 0.05) and 0.19 W (p < 0.05), respectively; the relative values were correspondingly better by 6.22% (p < 0.05) and 10.71% (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Hatha yoga and Pilates interventions are both effective in improving cardiovascular function, but hatha yoga turns out more beneficial.