Responses from one session of Mat Pilates on anxiety indicators in apparently healthy women and breast cancer survivors

Abstract

Objective: To compare the responses of one Mat Pilates session on state anxiety indicators among women who survived
breast cancer with apparently healthy women. Methods: Thirty women participated in the study, separated into a group
of breast cancer survivors (BCS) (n=15; age 61.00 standard deviation ±8.60) and a group of apparently healthy women
(n=15; age 59.07±6.78). The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Federal University of Goiás. State anxiety
levels were evaluated by the IDATE, which consists of 20 statements in which volunteers must indicate how they feel at a
given moment; the scores can range from 20–80, where: 20–34 represents mild or low anxiety; 35–49 moderate anxiety;
50–64 high or severe anxiety; and 65–80 very high anxiety or panic. The inclusion criteria for both groups were being in
menopause and not participating in any regular resistance exercise program in the last six months. For the BCS group, the
inclusion criteria were having undergone mastectomy or breast quadrantectomy and not having metastasized. The mean
and standard deviation were used for data analysis. Results: There was no difference in the classification of anxiety levels between BCS and apparently healthy women, respectively (BCS pre-test: 34.00±7.07 and post-test: 34.00±6.78; healthy
women pre-test: 30.00±6.68 and post-test: 31.00±4.77). Conclusion: The current results suggest no difference in the classification of anxiety levels between breast cancer survivors and women apparently healthy, although the classification of
anxiety levels of both groups represents mild or low anxiety.