Issue 24-2, 2025

The Use of Cardio Training in a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Breast Cancer: a Review

Ksenia A. Blinova^1,*, Irina E. Mishina³, Galina E. Ivanova³, Elena V. Berezina¹

¹ Ivanovo State Medical University, Ivanovo, Russia
² St Petersburg University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
³N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION.  The use of antitumor therapy in patients with breast cancer has led not only to an increase in their life expectancy, but also to the need to correct various side effects, including manifestations of cardiotoxicity. Rehabilitation of such patients in Russia is currently lacking.

AIM.  To search and analyze the literature on the effectiveness of physical training for the prevention of cardiotoxic complications of antitumor therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS.  Publications from the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PEDro databases over the past 15 years were collected and analyzed 15 years by keywords in Russian and English: “cardiotoxicity”, “exercise”, “breast cancer”. 126 sources were selected, including systematic reviews and a Cochrane review.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.  Preclinical studies have shown that physical exercise reduces the accumulation of antitumor drugs in the myocardium and increases the proliferation of cardiomyocyte progenitor cells. Conducting physical training during and after anticancer treatment increases cardiorespiratory endurance and reduces the manifestations of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. This rehabilitation intervention leads to less fatigue, decreased depression, improved physical fitness, cognitive functions, and quality of life. The greatest effectiveness during and after anticancer therapy was shown by aerobic and strength exercises of moderate intensity, performed for 30–40 minutes 3–5 times a week, which provide 150 minutes of physical activity per week. The limitation of the use of physical training in patients is due to the impossibility of predicting the training heart rate by age, as well as the need to take into account concomitant diseases and the patient’s condition.

CONCLUSION.  The use of physical training can be used in cancer patients to prevent cardiotoxicity of anticancer therapy. Further research is needed to ensure their successful use in patients with different physical fitness and treatment tolerance.

KEYWORDS: cardiac oncorehabilitation, cardiotoxicity, antitumor therapy, cardio training, physical exercises

FOR CITATION:

Blinova K.A, Mishina I.E., Ivanova G.E., Berezina E.V. The Use of Cardio Training in a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Breast Cancer: a Review. Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2025; 24(2):107–119. https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2025-24-2-107-119 (In Russ.). 

FOR CORRESPONDENCE:

Ksenia A. Blinova, Е-mail: xenny7@yandex.ru, adm@ivgmu.ru

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