McQuade, J., Prinsloo, S., Chang, D.Z., Spelman, A., Wei, Q., Basen-Engquist, K., . . . Cohen, L. (2016). Qigong/tai chi for sleep and fatigue in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: A randomized controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology. Advance online publication.
To examine the efficacy of qigong or tai chi to alleviate treatment-related fatigue and disturbed sleep in men who were undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
Randomized, controlled trial
This study did not show improvements in fatigue scores reported in any group either during treatment or after. Improvements in sleep duration was reported by those in the qigong group when compared to the light exercise group and the wait-list control. Sleep disturbance remained higher than clinical cutoff for all groups. Adherence to attendance at intervention in all classes was 64%. Additional practice at home after radiotherapy ended was not assessed.
Men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer are able and willing to participate in physical activity interventions, such as qigong and/or light exercise. Fatigue and sleep disturbance are common symptoms experienced by men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer and may persist after treatment is complete. However, qigong improved sleep duration for participants during radiotherapy treatment. This study did not detect improvements in fatigue or sleep disturbance that were sustained over the three-month period of the study.
No side effects were reported in either intervention group (qigong or light exercise).