Yoga for persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.

Author: Bower JE, Garet D, Sternlieb B, Ganz PA, Irwin MR, Olmstead R, Greendale G.
Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute at the University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. jbower@ucla.edu.
Conference/Journal: Cancer
Date published: 2011 Dec 16
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1002/cncr.26702. , Word Count: 252


BACKGROUND:
Cancer-related fatigue afflicts up to 33% of breast cancer survivors, yet there are no empirically validated treatments for this symptom.
METHODS:
The authors conducted a 2-group randomized controlled trial to determine the feasibility and efficacy of an Iyengar yoga intervention for breast cancer survivors with persistent post-treatment fatigue. Participants were breast cancer survivors who had completed cancer treatments (other than endocrine therapy) at least 6 months before enrollment, reported significant cancer-related fatigue, and had no other medical conditions that would account for fatigue symptoms or interfere with yoga practice. Block randomization was used to assign participants to a 12-week, Iyengar-based yoga intervention or to 12 weeks of health education (control). The primary outcome was change in fatigue measured at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and 3 months after treatment completion. Additional outcomes included changes in vigor, depressive symptoms, sleep, perceived stress, and physical performance. Intent-to-treat analyses were conducted with all randomized participants using linear mixed models.
RESULTS:
Thirty-one women were randomly assigned to yoga (n = 16) or health education (n = 15). Fatigue severity declined significantly from baseline to post-treatment and over a 3-month follow-up in the yoga group relative to controls (P = .032). In addition, the yoga group had significant increases in vigor relative to controls (P = .011). Both groups had positive changes in depressive symptoms and perceived stress (P < .05). No significant changes in sleep or physical performance were observed.
CONCLUSIONS:
A targeted yoga intervention led to significant improvements in fatigue and vigor among breast cancer survivors with persistent fatigue symptoms. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Copyright © 2011 American Cancer Society.
PMID: 22180393