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and Forte Freitas J únior, I. Long-term side effects of breast cancer on force production parameters. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1450-1458, 2022-Breast cancer treatments have long-term side effects, which are associated with muscle strength reduction, negatively affecting the quality of life and increasing the chances of a sedentary life style. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of types of surgery and hormone therapy on muscle strength parameters in breast cancer survivors compared to women without cancer (control). Eighty-three women, 42 breast cancer survivors and 41 control women, volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects performed maximal isometric voluntary contractions, so that force parameters of the right and left shoulder abductor, trunk extensor, and preferred knee extensor-flexor muscles could be evaluated. Overall, breast cancer survivors presented a lower absolute and normalized maximal force (Fmax) for all muscle groups compared with control. The right shoulder abductor muscles of breast cancer survivors presented a significantly lower absolute and normalized rapid force index (RFI) than control. When compared according to hormone therapy treatment, in breast cancer survivors undergoing aromatase inhibitor, all strength parameters except for normalized RFI demonstrated lower values for the right and left shoulder abductors, trunk, and knee extensors compared with control and tamoxifen. When separated by surgery type, breast cancer survivors who underwent quadrantectomy and radical mastectomy presented lower values for some strength parameters for the left and right shoulder abductors, except for trunk extensor muscles, in which quadrantectomy and total mastectomy presented lower strength parameters. It is recommended that breast cancer survivors should be encouraged to perform supervised strength training programs for different muscle groups to improve Fmax and RFI, aiming to reduce muscle weakness and pain, and improve functional capacity and quality of life.

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Introduction: Breast cancer and its treatments lead to several physical and psychological repercussions in the short and long term. Furthermore, breast cancer survivors (BCS) tend to present sedentary behavior, which worsens the aforementioned breast cancer treatment side effects. Physical exercise has been demonstrated to be effective for improving physical and psychological BCS aspects. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of 24 weeks of supervised Mat Pilates on force production, flexibility, postural control, gait, body composition, pain, cancer related fatigue (CRF), body image, physical activity level, quality of life, and nutritional status in BCS undergoing hormone therapy. Methods and design: The HAPiMat Study is a randomized controlled clinical intervention trial comparing Mat Pilates with a control group. The primary outcomes are force production in different muscle groups, upper and lower limb flexibility, and gait and balance parameters. The secondary outcomes are quality of life, pain, cancer related fatigue, body image, sedentary behavior, functional capacity, physical activity level, nutritional intake, anthropometric measurements, and body composition. The safety of the Mat Pilates intervention and physical assessments are monitored throughout the intervention. Discussion: The strengths of this study are that the Pilates Method is mind-body training, which might ameliorate the side effects of breast cancer treatments, and that our intervention is systematized into sets, with the number of repetitions increased every eight weeks, enabling better results in the physical variables. Moreover, to date, no Pilates studies have focused on BCS undergoing hormone therapy only.