Sensorimotor rehab improves functional mobility, postural stability in breast cancer survivors

This multicenter, randomized wait-list controlled trial evaluated whether a sensorimotor-based rehabilitation program emphasizing movement control (Rehabilitation through Movement and Perception, ReMAP) could improve functional mobility and postural stability in breast cancer survivors. The study enrolled 71 breast cancer survivors (mean age 50.7 ± 8.9 years) with mild functional impairment who had completed curative breast cancer treatment at least 3 months prior. Participants were assigned to the ReMAP intervention group (n=41) or a wait-list control group (n=30). The 8-week intervention consisted of supervised, low- to moderate-intensity sensorimotor exercises targeting postural alignment, coordination, and balance. The primary outcome was functional mobility assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Secondary outcomes included handgrip strength, 6-min walk distance, disability assessed using the WHODAS 12, and postural stability quantified by kinematic measures of center-of-mass sway. At 8 weeks, participants in the ReMAP group demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in functional mobility than controls, with a larger reduction in TUG time (group × time interaction: β = -0.97 s, 95% CI -1.93 to -0.01; p = 0.049). Postural stability improved significantly, evidenced by reductions in mediolateral and anteroposterior center-of-mass sway. No significant between-group differences were observed in handgrip strength, 6-min walk distance, or self-reported disability. Exploratory analyses suggested that improvements in TUG performance were more closely associated with changes in movement quality than with changes in physical capacity. The study concluded that a sensorimotor-based rehabilitation program improved functional mobility and postural stability in breast cancer survivors with relatively preserved physical capacity, and that targeting movement quality may address key mechanisms underlying balance-related vulnerability in survivorship care.

If you've finished breast cancer treatment, you might find that getting up from a chair or walking feels harder, even if you're working on your strength. This is a common and frustrating problem. A recent study tested a different approach to rehabilitation. Instead of focusing mainly on building muscle or stamina, the program taught movement control, coordination, and balance.

In the trial, 71 breast cancer survivors who had some difficulty with daily movement were split into two groups. One group did this 8-week movement-focused program, while the other waited. The program involved supervised, gentle exercises.

The results showed that the women who did the movement program improved more on a key test of functional mobility—how quickly they could stand up from a chair, walk, and sit back down. Their balance, measured by how much their body swayed, also got better. Interestingly, the program did not significantly improve their hand strength, how far they could walk in six minutes, or their self-reported disability. The improvements in getting up and moving seemed linked more to better movement quality than to increased physical capacity.

For survivors, this means a rehabilitation approach that teaches your body how to move with better control and stability might help you navigate daily life more easily, even if traditional measures of fitness don't change much.