Bower, J. E., Garet, D., Sternlieb, B., Ganz, P. A., Irwin, M. R., Olmstead, R., & Greendale, G. (2012). Yoga for persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Cancer, 118, 3766–3775.
To examine, relative to a health education control, the feasibility and efficacy of an Iyengar yoga intervention for breast cancer survivors with persistent posttreatment fatigue.
Outcome assessors of the performance tasks were blinded to group assignment. The intervention was briefly but fully described, and then participants were randomly assigned to a group that received a 12-week, Iyengar-based yoga intervention or a group that received 12 weeks of a health education (control group).
The study was a randomized, controlled trial.
Relative to the control group, fatigue severity in the intervention group declined significantly (p = 0.032) from baseline to posttreatment and over the three-month follow-up. In addition, relative to the control group, the yoga group had significant (p = 0.011) increases in vigor. Both groups had positive changes in symptoms of depression and perceived stress (p < 0.05). The authors noted no significant changes in sleep or physical performance.
One adverse protocol-related event occurred: a participant with a history of back problems experienced a back spasm in yoga class. After evaluation by her physician, she returned to class.
A targeted yoga intervention led to a significant reduction in fatigue and improvement in vigor among breast cancer survivors with persistent fatigue symptoms. This conclusion should be understood in the context of the study: participants were relatively healthy and without comorbid conditions found in the general population.
This study offered minimal conclusive data in support of the intervention. Preliminary findings indicated that the yoga intervention is feasible and safe and has a positive effect on fatigue. A larger trial that includes participants with common comorbid conditions—a study more representative of the general population of women with breast cancer posttreatment—is warranted. Secondary outcomes included vigor, symptoms of depression, sleep, perceived stress, and physical performance.