The Effects of the Bali Yoga Program for Breast Cancer Patients on Cancer Related Fatigue: Results of a Randomized Partially Blinded Controlled Trial.

Background: A few complementary and alternative medicine methods have been reported to reduce cancer related fatigue (CRF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a yoga intervention in reducing CRF among women receiving chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This was a randomized partially blinded controlled trial comparing a standardized yoga intervention to standard care. It was conducted at three medical centers in Montreal, Canada. Eligible patients were women diagnosed with stage I--III breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to receive the yoga intervention immediately or after a waiting period. The Bali Yoga Program for Breast Cancer patients (BYP-BC) consisted of 24 gentle poses, 2 breathing techniques, relaxation periods, and psychoeducational themes. Participants attended eight weekly sessions lasting 90 minutes and a DVD for home practice with 20- and 40-minute sessions. Participants in the waitlist (WL) control group received standard care. Results: Forty-eight participants were included in the study. The repeated measure analyses revealed no significant increase in general fatigue in the BYP-BC group (P50.66) while it significantly worsened in the WL group (P50.000). Motivation improved in the BYP-BC group (P50.01) and worsened in the WL group (P50.01). Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest BYP-BC could be beneficial in preventing worsening of CRF during chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]