Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Jul-Sep;23(3):247-252.
doi: 10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_95_17.

Effects of Yoga in Managing Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

H S Vadiraja  1 , Raghavendra Mohan Rao  2 , R Nagarathna  1 , H R Nagendra  3 , Shekhar Patil  4 , Ravi B Diwakar  4 , H P Shashidhara  4 , K S Gopinath  5 , B S Ajaikumar  6
Affiliations

Effects of Yoga in Managing Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

H S Vadiraja et al. Indian J Palliat Care. 2017 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Background: Cancer-related fatigue is widely prevalent in cancer patients and affects quality of life in advanced cancer patients. Fatigue is caused due to both psychologic distress and physiological sequel following cancer progression and its treatment. In this study, we evaluate the effects of yogic intervention in managing fatigue in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Methods: Ninety-one patients with metastatic breast cancer were randomized to receive integrated yoga program (n = 46) or supportive therapy and education (n = 45) over a 3-month period. Assessments such as perceived stress, fatigue symptom inventory, diurnal salivary cortisol, and natural killer cell counts were carried out before and after intervention. Analysis was done using an intention-to-treat approach. Postmeasures for the above outcomes were assessed using ANCOVA with respective baseline measure as a covariate.

Results: The results suggest that yoga reduces perceived stress (P = 0.001), fatigue frequency (P < 0.001), fatigue severity (P < 0.001), interference (P < 0.001), and diurnal variation (P < 0.001) when compared to supportive therapy. There was a positive correlation of change in fatigue severity with 9 a.m. salivary cortisol levels.

Conclusion: The results suggest that yoga reduces fatigue in advanced breast cancer patients.

Keywords: Cortisol; fatigue; stress; supportive therapy; yoga.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. Svensson H, Brandberg Y, Einbeigi Z, Hatschek T, Ahlberg K. Psychological reactions to progression of metastatic breast cancer – An interview study. Cancer Nurs. 2009;32:55–63. - PubMed
    1. Curt GA, Breitbart W, Cella D, Groopman JE, Horning SJ, Itri LM, et al. Impact of cancer-related fatigue on the lives of patients: New findings from the Fatigue Coalition. Oncologist. 2000;5:353–60. - PubMed
    1. Stone P, Richards M, Hardy J. Fatigue in patients with cancer. Eur J Cancer. 1998;34:1670–6. - PubMed
    1. Glaus A, Crow R, Hammond S. A qualitative study to explore the concept of fatigue/tiredness in cancer patients and in healthy individuals. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 1996;5(2 Suppl):8–23. - PubMed
    1. Glaus A. Fatigue in patients with cancer. Analysis and assessment. Recent Results Cancer Res. 1998;145:1. - PubMed