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Yoga management of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a randomised controlled pilot-trial.
- Source :
- BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine; 2014, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p1-24, 24p, 1 Diagram, 5 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Background Secondary arm lymphoedema continues to affect at least 20% of women after treatment for breast cancer requiring lifelong professional treatment and self-management. The holistic practice of yoga may offer benefits as an adjunct self-management option. The aim of this small pilot trial was to gain preliminary data to determine the effect of yoga on women with stage one breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL). This paper reports the results for the primary and secondary outcomes. Methods Participants were randomised, after baseline testing, to receive either an 8-week yoga intervention (n = 15), consisting of a weekly 90-minute teacher-led class and a 40-minute daily session delivered by DVD, or to a usual care wait-listed control group (n = 13). Primary outcome measures were: arm volume of lymphoedema measured by circumference and extracellular fluid measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy. Secondary outcome measures were: tissue induration measured by tonometry; levels of sensations, pain, fatigue, and their limiting effects all measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of life based on the Lymphoedema Quality of Life Tool (LYMQOL). Measurements were conducted at baseline, week 8 (post-intervention) and week 12 (four weeks after cessation of the intervention). Results At week 8, the intervention group had a greater decrease in tissue induration of the affected upper arm compared to the control group (p = 0.050), as well as a greater reduction in the symptom sub-scale for QOL (p = 0.038). There was no difference in arm volume of lymphoedema or extra-cellular 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). Conclusions An 8-week yoga intervention reduced tissue induration of the affected upper arm and decreased the QOL sub-scale of symptoms. Arm volume of lymphoedema and extra-cellular fluid did not increase. These benefits did not last on cessation of the intervention when arm volume of lymphoedema increased. Further research trials with a longer duration, higher levels of lymphoedema and larger numbers are warranted before definitive conclusions can be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- TONOMETRY
YOGA
LYMPHEDEMA treatment
ANALYSIS of variance
BREAST tumors
CHI-squared test
MEDICAL cooperation
HEALTH outcome assessment
QUALITY of life
QUESTIONNAIRES
REGRESSION analysis
RESEARCH
RESEARCH funding
STATISTICAL sampling
STATISTICS
T-test (Statistics)
DVD-Video discs
PILOT projects
DATA analysis
RANDOMIZED controlled trials
VISUAL analog scale
TREATMENT effectiveness
ARM circumference
DATA analysis software
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
DISEASE complications
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14726882
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 97096732
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-214