Comparison of the Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Acupressure in Reducing Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors

Objectives: Hot flash is a prevalent health problem among breast cancer survivors. Due to the prohibition of estrogen use in patients affected by breast cancer, the treatment of hot flashes is a major challenge in these patients. In this regard, the objective of this study was to compare the effect of exercise and acupressure on decreasing hot flashes in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out on 99 women with breast cancer referring to two divisions of the Oncology Clinic of Tabriz Medical Sciences University in Iran. Participants were assigned to exercise, acupressure, and control through random selection. For the members of the acupressure group, acupressure was applied to the HE7, SP6, and HE GU points by an acupuncturist for 15 minutes three days a week during an 8-week period. Regarding the exercise group, a moderate 60-minute aerobic exercise program was designed and implemented 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Finally, the control group was awarded general education on lifestyle changes in order to reduce hot flashes. Results: Data analysis results showed a reduction in the mean of hot flash scores in both acupressure and exercise groups in the 4th and 8th weeks compared to the control group (P < 0.001). However, acupressure and exercise did not significantly reduce the hot flash scores in either group. Conclusions: In general, the results revealed that exercise and acupressure are two effective methods with negligible side effects for diminishing hot flashes in women suffering from breast cancer. Considering the prevalence of hot flashes in breast cancer patients, the use of these two methods can be a good alternative to medical treatments for controlling and reducing hot flashes.