Yoga Shows Promise for Improving QOL Following Cancer Treatment

Mary Lou Galantino, Ph.D., and her colleagues at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, have been studying the effect of yoga on flexibility and balance in women with breast cancer who have suffered arthralgias associated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs).

The pilot project involved 10 postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer who experienced debilitating arthralgia following treatment with AIs. They participated in twice-weekly, 90-minute Iyengar-style yoga sessions, led by certified instructors and focused on flexibility, deep breathing, and meditation. Patients were encouraged to practice at home for 15 minutes per day.

Trained physical therapists measured Sit and Reach (the distance a person can reach beyond the feet while in a seated position with legs extended) and Functional Reach (the difference, in inches, between arm’s length and maximal forward reach, using a fixed base of support) following each session. The study also included patient self-assessment of function.

From baseline to the end of the trial, the patients showed significant changes in Sit and Reach (from a mean of 22.9 to 30.1 cm) and in Functional Reach (from a mean of 25.4 cm to 39.1 cm). Scores on subjective self-assessment of function also improved.

"The preliminary data suggest that yoga may improve flexibility and balance in breast cancer survivors who experience aromatase inhibitor–associated arthralgia," Dr. Galantino said.