Evaluation of the Impact of Physical Exercise in Reducing Pain in Women Undergoing Mammography: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of exercise prior to mammography in reducing perceived postexamination pain.

Methods: An open, randomized, and controlled clinical trial was conducted. The interventions consisted of warm-up and stretching exercises of the upper or lower limbs of women who consulted at Barretos Cancer Hospital, São Paulo State, Brazil. The women were divided into three groups based on the intervention and its location: upper limbs (group 1), lower limbs (group 2), and no intervention (group 0). Quantitative variables were compared between and within groups using analysis of variance and Student's t test with a 5% significance level. Relative risk (RR) calculations and their derived measurements such as efficacy, number needed to treat (NNT), absolute risk reduction (ARR), and relative risk reduction (RRR) were taken. This study was approved by the Institutional Committee of Research Ethics.

Results: A total of 198 (66 per group) women were evaluated. Sociodemographic data and level of physical activity were not found to be associated with perception of pain after mammogram. However, group 1 had the greatest reduction in postprocedure perception of pain compared with groups 2 (relative risk [RR] = 3.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.12-5.51, P < 0.05) and 0 (RR = 1.92 (95% CI = 1.08-3.42, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Pre-examination upper limb exercises were most effective in reducing the perception and sensation of pain. However, women who performed lower limb exercises also had a decreased perception of pain compared with the control group.