Discovering the Physical and Psychological Benefits of Yoga for Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Physical activity provides a number of physical and psychological benefits to cancer survivors, including lessening the impact of detrimental cancer-related symptoms and treatment side effects (e.g., fatigue, nausea)and improving overall well-being and quality of life. The purpose of the present pilot study was to examine the physical and psychological benefits afforded by a seven-week Yoga program for cancer survivors within the framework of the theory of planned behavior. The Yoga program participants (M age=51.18 [10.33]; 92%female) included primarily breast cancer survivors, on average 55.95 (54.39) months post-diagnosis. Significant differences between the intervention group (n=20)and the control group (n=18) at post-intervention were seen in both psychosocial (i.e., global quality of life,stress, emotional function, emotional irritability, mood disturbance, tension, depression, anger, confusion) and physical (i.e., resting heart rate, cardiovascular endurance, cardiopulmonary arousal) variables (all p's<.05). There were also significant improvements(all p's<.05) in the program participants from pre- to post-intervention on a number of physical and psychosocial variables. These initial findings suggest that Yoga has significant potential and should be further explored as a beneficial physical activity option for cancer survivors. Future research might attempt to include a broader range of participants (e.g., other types of cancer diagnoses, more male subjects) in a randomized,controlled trial.