Loudon, A., Barnett, T., Piller, N., Immink, M.A., & Williams, A.D. (2014). Yoga management of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: A randomised controlled pilot-trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14, 214.
To determine how women with stage 1 breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) are affected by yoga
Multi-center, randomized, controlled pilot trial using a parallel design with participants allocated to the intervention or control groups on a 1:1 ratio
At week 8, the intervention group had a greater decrease in tissue induration in the affected upper arm compared to the control group (p = 0.050) and a greater reduction in the symptom subscale for quality of life (p = 0.038). There was no difference in arm volume of lymphedema or extracellular fluid between groups at week 8. However, at week 12, arm volume increased more for the intervention group than the control group (p = 0.032).
The outcomes of this small pilot trial provided preliminary evidence that an eight-week Satyananda yoga intervention did not exacerbate lymphedema and improved tissue induration ing the affected upper arm as well as quality of life subscale symptoms. However, the fact that these improvements were not maintained at the one-month follow-up when arm volume was increased suggested that yoga needs to be ongoing. This is one of few studies that addresses tissue induration.
Yoga may reduce tissue induration in the upper arm affected by lymphedema and decrease its associated symptoms. However, additional research trials with longer durations, higher levels of lymphedema, and larger numbers are warranted before definitive conclusions can be made.