Nordic walking for women with breast cancer: A systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to synthesize and evaluate the existing scientific evidence on the effects of Nordic walking on women with breast cancer, focusing on methodological quality and outcomes.
Results Summary
Nordic walking had a significant positive impact on breast cancer symptoms, including lymphedema, physical fitness, disability, and morbid perceptions, with no reported adverse effects. However, methodological limitations in the studies suggest the need for further research.
Population
Women with breast cancer (BC survivors).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nordic walking | decrease | lymphedema | women with breast cancer | - | had a significant and positive impact | #1 |
Nordic walking | increase | physical fitness | women with breast cancer | - | had a significant and positive impact | #2 |
Nordic walking | decrease | disability | women with breast cancer | - | had a significant and positive impact | #3 |
Nordic walking | decrease | morbid perceptions | women with breast cancer | - | had a significant and positive impact | #4 |
Nordic walking | no change | adverse effects | women with breast cancer | no adverse effects | No adverse effects were reported | #5 |
Nordic walking (NW) seems to be an interesting rehabilitation strategy for women with breast cancer (BC). No review article that has synthesised and summarised the existing scientific evidence about the effect of NW on BC survivors has been published so far. A systematic review was conducted aimed at identifying the characteristics and methodological quality of the studies that have analysed the effects of NW on women with BC. The critical appraisal of the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was retrieved from the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). The methodological quality of the uncontrolled studies was evaluated by means of the Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After Studies with No Control Group. Nine investigations (four RCTs and five quasi-experimental studies) were included in the final analysis. The RCTs showed a fair methodological quality, while the quasi-experimental studies obtained a score ranging from "fair" to "poor". Judging from the findings of the analysed studies, NW had a significant and positive impact on a number of BC symptoms, including lymphedema, physical fitness, disability and morbid perceptions. No adverse effects were reported. However, due to the methodological limitations observed, further research is needed to confirm such findings.