Efeitos da fisioterapia no manejo da artralgia de mulheres com câncer de mama em uso de inibidores de aromatase

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women in Brazil, characterized by high clinical and molecular heterogeneity, which directly influences therapeutic responses. Approximately 75% of cases show positivity for hormone receptors, for which the use of aromatase inhibitors (AI) is indicated as an effective adjuvant treatment. However, this therapy is often associated with aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia (AIA), a painful condition that compromises treatment adherence and quality of life. In this context, physical exercise—particularly of light to moderate intensity—has shown beneficial effects by modulating immune responses and reducing inflammatory mediators, with the potential to improve physical function and emotional well-being in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of physical exercise, manual techniques, and physiotherapeutic follow-up in the management of AIA. METHODOLOGY: A literature review was conducted using the PUBMED, PEDro, BVS, and SciELO databases, including articles published in the last 10 years in Portuguese or English. Studies were selected that included postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer who were undergoing AI treatment. RESULTS: The reviewed studies included systematic reviews, randomized clinical trials, and literature reviews, varying in sample size and study duration, which ranged from 3 months to one year. The most common interventions were resistance and aerobic exercises, Pilates, physiotherapy sessions, acupuncture, taping, stretching, and manual therapy. CONCLUSION: The combination of resistance and aerobic training is an effective strategy for patients with AIA. Other modalities such as Pilates, yoga, and tai chi have also proven effective in controlling pain and joint stiffness. Due to the small sample sizes and short study durations, further randomized clinical trials with larger samples and standardized protocols are needed to define ideal parameters for exercise frequency, intensity, and duration for this population.