Rehabilitation, an often underestimated lever

By Ana Espino | Published on October 27, 2025 | 3 min read


Although breast cancer is being treated more and more effectively, it often leaves significant physical aftereffects following surgery: chronic pain, upper-limb lymphedema, loss of mobility, and persistent fatigue. These symptoms directly affect quality of life and the return to independence. Yet, functional rehabilitation remains inconsistent—often underprescribed or started too late.

Exercise-based rehabilitation programs—whether endurance, strength, or mobility focused—could offer a concrete solution, but their overall efficacy and safety remain debated. In this context, this study was conducted to evaluate the real impact of such interventions on functional parameters, postoperative symptoms, and quality of life in women who have undergone breast cancer surgery.    

Exercise — a therapeutic strategy in its own right?  

A total of 22 randomized controlled trials involving 2,305 women operated on for breast cancer were included. The interventions consisted of various physical exercise programs (aerobic, strengthening, mobility), implemented during the postoperative phase. Participants were compared with control groups receiving either standard care or no specific rehabilitation. Outcomes assessed included pain, lymphedema, range of motion, muscle strength, and quality of life.  

The findings show that exercise-based interventions, when initiated within weeks after surgery, significantly reduce pain and lower the risk of lymphedema. Shoulder range of motion improved markedly, with gains in flexion, abduction, and rotation. Muscle strength, particularly grip and shoulder strength, was also enhanced.  

On the psychological and social levels, notable benefits were observed: reduced fatigue, improved quality of life, emotional well-being, and overall functioning.   However, the analysis revealed substantial heterogeneity across studies in terms of program type, frequency, duration, supervision methods, and evaluation tools—making it difficult to establish a single standardized recommendation for clinical practice.    

Toward personalized and systematized rehabilitation?  

Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy among women. Although surgical treatments have significantly improved survival, they often result in long-lasting functional limitations. Returning to an active life—free from pain and physical restrictions—remains a major challenge, especially given the lack of standardized and accessible rehabilitation protocols.  

In this context, this study sought to comprehensively evaluate the impact of structured, supervised physical exercise on postoperative recovery. The results confirm that structured physical activity significantly improves pain, mobility, muscle strength, and quality of life, while being well tolerated.

These findings suggest that physical exercise should be viewed as a therapeutic intervention in its own right, particularly when integrated early into post-surgical care pathways.  

Nevertheless, limitations remain. Future research should focus on personalizing interventions based on patient profiles, defining optimal, reproducible programs, and promoting their systematic integration into care pathways. A structured, interdisciplinary approach is essential to firmly establish therapeutic exercise as a central component of functional oncology.  

Read next: What if physical exercise were the key to clearing “chemo brain” after breast cancer?