Effect of individualised physical rehabilitation programmes on the functional state of the cardiovascular system in women with post-mastectomy syndrome

Background/Aims The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of individualised physical rehabilitation programmes aimed at improving cardiovascular function in women with post-mastectomy syndrome. Methods The following methods were applied: theoretical analysis of scientific and methodologic literature data, impedance cardiography, and mathematical statistical methods. A total of 115 women with late symptoms of post-mastectomy syndrome who completed the interventions were included in this study. The participants were randomly enrolled into three groups for the first individualised programme (Group 1, n=45), for the second individualised programme (Group 2, n=40) and for the third individualised programme (Group 3, n=30). The first programme included aqua aerobics (aqua jogging, aqua building, aqua stretching), conditional swimming and recreational aerobics; the second programme included conditional swimming and Pilates exercises; the third programme included yoga-based exercises and stretching. The study was conducted during the ambulatory rehabilitation stage and lasted for 12 months. Results It was found that most of the investigated hemodynamic parameters in all groups steadily improved during the year of rehabilitation. The average values of stroke volume, cardiac output, left ventricular work, left ventricular power after 12 months of rehabilitation were statistically better (P<0.05) in the first main group compared with the second and third main groups. Conclusions Individualised programmes of physical rehabilitation were effective in improvement of cardiovascular function of all studied patients with post-mastectomy syndrome.