Editorial: Mind-body medicine and its impacts on psychological networks, quality of life, and health, Volume II

Background/Purpose: Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have provided substantial support for the positive impact of exercise on the quality of life among individuals with breast cancer. However, there remains a paucity of understanding regarding the optimal exercise interventions within this context. This knowledge gap significantly hinders the capacity of clinical practitioners to accurately recommend suitable exercise regimens for their patients. The aim of this study was to compare and rank the effectiveness of four primary categories of exercise (aerobic, resistance, mind-body, and combined exercise) on improving quality of life in women with breast cancer by network meta-analysis. Method: Articles published in English and indexed in the PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL Plus databases from their inception to 12 December 2023 were identified. Eligible studies were RCTs that involved exercise and assessed quality of life using specialized tools. Two researchers used the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for RCTs to assess the risk of bias for all included studies. A Frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 15.0 to appraise the efficacy of different types of exercise. Results: A total of 106 studies with 8,514 participants were included. All four types of exercise were effective (standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.36–0.70) in improving quality of life compared to usual care. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) indicated that combined exercise improved patients' quality of life the best (SMD = 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58–0.89; SUCRA = 96.4%). For the secondary outcomes, mind-body exercise was the most effective in improving patients' depression (SMD = -0.52, 95% CI: -0.81 – -0.22; SUCRA = 74.4%). It was the only mind-body exercise that significantly improved anxiety (SMD = -0.71, 95% CI: -1.11–-0.31). Conclusion/Discussion: All types of exercise were effective in improving quality of life among breast cancer women, combined exercise (the combination of aerobic and resistance exercise) has the highest probability of being the optimal exercise type for improving quality of life, and mind-body exercise tends to be most effective in reducing their depression and anxiety. In the future, more long-follow-up, multi-arm RCTs should be conducted, and the optimal composition of combined exercise should be further explored.

Neurofibromatoses (NF; NF1, NF2-related schwannomatosis, and other forms) are incurable genetic disorders linked to poor quality of life (QoL). Limited research exists on social support as a protective factor for QoL in NF. This secondary analysis examined whether baseline social support moderates QoL outcomes in individuals with NF. Participants (N = 228, Mage=41.5, 75% female) were randomized to 3RP-NF (a mind-body resiliency intervention) or HEP-NF (control). Measures of social support and QoL (environmental, social, physical, psychological) were collected at baseline, post-test, and 12-month follow-up. Individuals with higher baseline social support reported consistently higher QoL across both interventions, achieving clinically meaningful improvement, while those with low social support did not. No significant 3-way interactions were found between time, social support, and group from baseline to post-test (ps = 0.13-0.83) or follow-up (ps = 0.21-0.69). However, exploratory analyses showed a significant interaction between time and baseline social support for the 3RP-NF group in social, environmental, and psychological QoL at post-test (ps = 0.02-0.05), with a sustained effect at follow-up for social QoL (p = .01). No such effects were found in the HEP-NF group (ps = 0.25-0.68). In adults with NF, baseline social support moderates social and environmental QoL in mind-body interventions. Enhancing social support early may particularly benefit individuals with initially low support, though further research is needed to identify effective strategies for achieving clinically meaningful changes. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03406208. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03406208.

With the intensification of the global aging trend, there is a contradiction between the extended lifespan and the decline of physiological functions among the older adult. It has become a global consensus to focus on and improve the quality of life for the older adult. Mind-body exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing) play a crucial role in promoting the quality of life for older adults, but the mechanisms and mediating effects are not yet clear. This study examines the impact of mind-body exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing) on the quality of life in older adults, with a particular focus on exploring the chain mediating effects of perceived social support and psychological resilience. This study is a cross-sectional study that surveyed 1,087 older adults participating in mind-body exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing) in 13 districts of Beijing, China, from March 25 to May 3, 2024. The Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF), the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were used to measure mind-body exercise, perceived social support, psychological resilience, and quality of life, respectively. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 26.0, and mediation effects were tested and effect analysis was conducted through structural equation modeling (AMOS) and the Bootstrap method. The study results show that mind-body exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing) are significantly and positively correlated with the quality of life in older adults (r = 0.549, p < 0.01). The path coefficients for the relationships mind-body exercise → perceived social support (β = 0.46, p < 0.001) → psychological resilience (β = 0.20, p < 0.001) → quality of life in older adults (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) are significant, indicating that perceived social support and psychological resilience have a chain mediating effect between mind-body exercise and the quality of life in older adults. Mind-body exercises not only improve the quality of life for older adults but also indirectly enhance it by strengthening perceived social support and psychological resilience. This study provides significant reference for developing health intervention strategies targeted at older adults, suggesting that promoting mind-body exercises can improve their sense of perceived social support and psychological resilience, thereby increasing their quality of life.

Background: Breast cancer diagnosis has a number of adverse psychological effects. The Pre-Operative Health and Body (PreHAB) Study tested the impact of exercise and mind-body interventions upon on mood, quality of life, and patient-reported outcomes in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Methods: Women with newly diagnosed Stage I-III breast cancer were enrolled through Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Yale University breast cancer clinics prior to surgery. Participants were randomized 1:1 to an aerobic and strength-training exercise intervention, comprised of twice-weekly meetings with an exercise trainer and home based aerobic exercise, or to a self-directed mind-body relaxation intervention, comprised of a book and CD focused on relaxation and visualization. Participants engaged in the interventions between enrollment and surgery. The EORTC QLQ C-30, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale were collected at enrollment and prior to surgery. Results: 49 women were randomized (27 exercise and 22 control). Mean time between enrollment and surgery was 4.2 weeks. At baseline, patients reported moderate levels of anxiety, stress, insomnia, and lack of appetite, as well as diminished emotional and cognitive functioning (Table). Exercise participants significantly increased minutes of weekly exercise vs. mind-body participants (increase of 203 vs. 23 min/wk, p&amp;lt;0.0001). Mind body participants engaged in the intervention on average 69% of days during the intervention period. Pre-post changes demonstrated that participation in the mind-body intervention led to improvements in emotional and cognitive functioning and a reduction in anxiety and stress, and participation in the exercise intervention led to improvements in global quality of life, insomnia, appetite, and stress (Table). Women in the mind-body group experienced a significantly greater improvement in cognitive functioning as compared to women in the exercise group. Conclusions: Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer reported a number of physical and psychological symptoms in the pre-operative period. Exercise and mind-body interventions demonstrated promising benefits in improving functioning and reducing symptoms. More work is needed to develop pre-operative programs to help reduce the distress imparted by a cancer diagnosis in the critical time between diagnosis and surgery. Table* Exercise Mind Body Between Groups BaselineChangep valueBaselineChangep valuep valueEmotional Functioning68.6 (23.3)4.7 (18.3)0.2966.3 (24.2)10.0 (20.5)0.050.64Cognitive Functioning79.5 (24.6)-3.3 (24.1)0.6273.8 (22.1)11.7 (15.4)0.0020.03QOL74.0 (15.3)9.7 (15.9)0.00569.0 (21.1)7.5 (18.5)0.110.78Insomnia35.9 (32.6)-16.7 (32.6)0.0334.9 (35.7)-8.3 (21.3)0.060.52Lack of Appetite17.9 (27.0)-13.3 (27.2)0.0311.1 (19.2)-5.0 (22.4)0.530.29Anxiety8.3 (3.4)-0.6 (2.9)0.259.2 (2.5)-1.6 (2.3)0.0060.35Stress14.7 (7.2)-2.2 (4.9)0.0618.4 (5.5)-3.1 (6.8)0.060.77 *Results reported as means (SD). Positive scores on functional and QOL measures indicate improvements; negative scores on symptom measures indicate a decrease in symptoms. Citation Format: Ligibel JA, Giobbie-Hurder A, Dillion D, Shockro L, Campbell N, Rhei E, Troyan S, Dominici L, Golshan M, Chagpar A, Yung R, Freedman R, Tolaney S, Winer E, Frank E, McTiernan A, Irwin M. Impact of pre-operative exercise and mind-body interventions on patient-reported outcomes in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-11-02.

To compare the impact of exercise and mind-body prehabilitation interventions on changes in quality of life and cancer treatment-related symptoms in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. The following describes a secondary analysis of a randomized window of opportunity trial (The Pre-Operative Health and Body Study). Forty-nine women were randomized to participate in either an exercise prehabilitation intervention or a mind-body prehabilitation intervention from the time of enrollment to surgery. Participants (N = 47) completed measures of quality of life, anxiety, depression, and stress at the time of enrollment (T1), post-intervention/surgery (T2), and one-month post-surgery (T3). Changes in outcome measures between groups were compared over time using longitudinal models. Mind-body group participants experienced significant improvements in cognitive functioning in comparison to exercise group participants between T1 and T3 (difference in average change: -9.61, p = 0.04, d = 0.31), otherwise, there were no significant differences between groups. Within group comparisons demonstrated that both groups experienced improvements in anxiety (exercise: average change = -1.18, p = 0.03, d = 0.34; mind-body: average change = -1.69, p = 0.006, d = 0.43) and stress (exercise: average change = -2.33, p = 0.04, d = 0.30; mind-body: average change = -2.59, p = 0.05, d = 0.29), while mind-body group participants experienced improvements in insomnia (average change = -10.03, p = 0.04, d = 0.30) and cognitive functioning (average change = 13.16, p = 0.0003, d = 0.67). Both prehabilitation interventions impacted cancer treatment-related symptoms. Further work in larger groups of patients is needed to evaluate the efficacy of prehabilitation interventions on quality of life in women with breast cancer. Pre-operative exercise and mind-body interventions may impact physical and/or psychological effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment in women with breast cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01516190. Registered January 24, 2012.

To evaluate the efficacy of exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies on quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and depression among Asian perimenopausal women. A systematic review, meta-analysis, and synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM). Six electronic databases were systematically searched: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ProQuest. The point of inception of each database to 15 November 2018 were systematically searched. A meta-analysis and SWiM were used to present the results. Review Manager 5.3 and The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool were used for meta-analyses and assessing of risk of bias, respectively. In all, 23 studies were reviewed. Significant effects in exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies were found for quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and depression but not for hot flashes. Limitations of this review include insufficient blinding of participants and/or researchers found in most of the included studies and high levels of heterogeneity in the meta-analyses. Evidence found in this review is to be interpreted with caution. Healthcare professionals can consider exercise-based interventions or mind-body therapies to manage menopausal symptoms. Future trials of good quality can examine the cost-effectiveness and optimal intervention duration. Intervention effects on specific menopausal symptoms such as sleeplessness in Asia can be examined in future. Exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies suggest effectiveness on quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and depression among Asian perimenopausal women. Exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies improve quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and depression but not hot flashes. Long-term exercise-based interventions is effective in managing depression. Due to varied limitations in the review and included studies, firm conclusions cannot be reached. Healthcare professionals in Asia can consider implementing exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies for symptomatic perimenopausal Asian women.

Individuals with neurofibromatosis (NF) experience poorer quality of life (QoL), in part contributed by the clinical manifestations of NF, such as functional disability, chronic pain, and altered physical appearance. Mind-body therapies (MBTs) tailored to NF have been developed, and have demonstrated promising potential to improve QoL in this population. We sought to systematically review current evidence on the effectiveness of MBTs in addressing QoL deficits in NF patients. Databases were reviewed between the date of inception and June 2020, using search terms: neurofibromatosis, schwannomatosis, psychotherapy, mind-body, mindfulness, meditation, resiliency, and behavioral therapy. Quality appraisal was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools and National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment Tools. We conducted a meta-analysis of mean differences and reported aggregate effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals. A total of 10 articles, including randomized-controlled trials and pre-post studies, were identified. Meta-analytic results of randomized-controlled trial data from six citations demonstrated MBTs were associated with improved physical (MD = 13.63, 95%CI 6.95-20.30, P < .0001, I2 = 24%), psychological (MD = 14.11, 95%CI 6.44-21.78, P = .0003, I2 = 38%), social (MD = 9.63, 95%CI 2.93-16.33, P = .005, I2 = 0%), and environmental QoL (MD = 14.14, 95%CI 8.28-20.00, P < .00001. I2 = 0%) in NF patients. These associations were maintained at 6-months follow-up for physical, psychological, and environmental QoL (P < .05). Our findings suggest that NF-adapted MBT strategies are associated with improving QoL in diverse NF populations, including NF2 patients experiencing deafness and youth NF patients. Providers and caregivers for NF should be aware of the potential benefits of MBT in chronic NF management.

ABSTRACTBackgroundPrevious studies regarding mind–body exercise among people with breast cancer mostly focused on one type of mind–body exercise and provided conflicting results.AimsThis paper aims to systematically synthesize the evidence hierarchy and examine the credibility of previous meta‐analyses of different types of mind–body exercises.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Epitemonikos from database inception to February 2nd, 2024, for meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials. Included meta‐analyses examined the effects of mind–body exercises on at least one outcome of health‐related quality of life, cancer‐related fatigue, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality in breast cancer patients. The random effects estimates (Hedges'G), 95% prediction interval, small study effect, and excess significance bias were calculated. Furthermore, we categorized meta‐analyses based on the evidence credibility criteria and assessed quality using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2.ResultsThe umbrella review included a re‐analysis of 16 meta‐analyses of 9 articles including 134 randomized controlled trials involving 9469 breast cancer patients and survivors. We identified 3 articles as “low” quality and 6 articles as “critically low” quality. Convincing evidence supported the effectiveness of Yoga intervention in reducing depression symptoms (G = −0.77, 95% Confidence Interval [−0.93, −0.61]). However, 11 meta‐analyses were supported by weak evidence (1 for Qigong alleviated depression, 4 for Qigong, Baduanjin, Tai Chi Chuan, and Yoga improved health‐related quality of life, 3 for multiple mind–body exercises, Tai Chi Chuan, and Yoga reduced cancer‐related fatigue, 2 of Baduanjin and Yoga reduced anxiety, as well as 1 of Yoga improved sleep quality).Linking Evidence to ActionMind–body exercises, especially yoga, may be beneficial for improving health‐related quality of life and mental health for breast cancer patients. Further high‐quality interventions investigating diverse mind–body exercise interventions are warranted to ascertain the effectiveness of health‐related quality of life and mental health outcomes.

Background and Purpose- Psychological stressors, including poststroke depression, poststroke anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder, are highly prevalent in stroke survivors. These symptoms exact a significant toll on stroke survivors. Clinical and research efforts in stroke recovery focus on motor disability, speech and language deficits, and cognitive dysfunction while largely neglecting psychological stressors. Evidence suggests mind-body interventions in other chronic illness populations decrease symptoms of depression, regulate immune responses, and promote resilience, yet similar studies are lacking in stroke populations. This review aims to synthesize evidence of the effects of mind-body interventions on psychological stressors, quality of life, and biological outcomes for stroke survivors. Methods- A systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL was conducted from database inception to November 2017. Results- Eight studies were included in the review, with a total of 292 participants. Mind-body interventions included yoga or tai chi. Of the 5 included randomized controlled trials, most were pilot or feasibility studies with small sample sizes. Psychological stressors, including poststroke depression and anxiety, along with the quality of life, improved over time, but statistically significant between-group differences were largely absent. The 3 included studies with a qualitative design reported themes reflecting improvement in psychological stressors and quality of life. No included studies reported biological outcomes. Conclusions- Studies of mind-body interventions suggest a possible benefit on psychological stressors and quality of life; however, rigorously designed, sufficiently powered randomized controlled trials with mixed-methods design are warranted to delineate specific treatment effects of these interventions. Studies with both biological and psychological stressors as outcomes would provide evidence about interaction effects of these factors on stroke-survivor responses to mind-body interventions.

Previous randomized controlled trials (RCT) found that mind-body therapy can improve the health outcomes of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify the combined effects of mind-body therapy on patients' IBS symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. A systematic literature search was conducted using various databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL CENTRAL, DBpia, RISS, and KISS. The primary outcome variables were IBS symptoms and quality of life; the secondary outcome variables were anxiety and depression. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3.0 was used to analyze the extracted data. The effect size was calculated using standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Eleven final RCTs were used for this meta-analysis. Mind-body therapy was found to have a significant effect on the IBS patients' symptoms (SMD, -0.63; 95% CI, -0.77 to -0.48), quality of life (SMD, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.40 to 1.66), anxiety (SMD, -0.28; 95% CI, -0.47 to -0.09), and depression (SMD, -0.31; 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.12). This meta-analysis reveals that mind-body therapy significantly improves IBS patients' symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. The results suggest that, in the future, appropriate mind-body therapy should be applied to Koreans suffering from IBS. Moreover, the therapy's long-term effects should be assessed.

BackgroundThere is an increasing range of mind–body medicine (MBM) courses in Germany to support university students in dealing with stress. The evaluation of these varies and often only has a small number of participants due to the limited group size of the courses. The aim of this project was the development of a quantitative basic evaluation that can be used across all sites that conduct MBM courses.MethodsIn a consensus-based and systematic decision-making process, the learning objectives and various questionnaires for the evaluation of MBM courses were discussed and evaluated by experts according to defined criteria. The process was iterative, in which the reflection and definition of the learning objectives and the questionnaires were conditional and adapted if necessary. The recommendations for the basic evaluation of students’ MBM courses were developed by consensus among the experts.ResultsFor the experts, the most important learning objectives of the MBM courses were stress reduction and self-experience with the exercises. A total of 21 questionnaires were evaluated from nine topics: mindfulness, empathy, self-reflection, self-efficacy, resilience, stress, sense of coherence, quality of life, and well-being. Finally, eight questionnaires were recommended by the expert group for use in a basic evaluation: stress (PSS-10), quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref), mindfulness (MAAS), self-efficacy (GSE), self-compassion (SCS), empathy (SPF), self-reflection (GRAS) and sense of coherence (SOC-13). Further questionnaires were recommended as "optional". An additional qualitative evaluation is recommended for a broader and deeper understanding of the quantitative results.ConclusionsThe proposed basic evaluation is the central result of the iterative consensus-based decision-making process, which reflects the learning objectives of the underlying MBM courses. We hope that the basic evaluation will be integrated into other MBM courses so that results of various courses can be pooled and compared across sites in the future. This could increase the informative value of the evaluations. Furthermore, researchers could consider the use of the basic evaluation in clinically controlled trials on MBM.Trial registrationThe project was not registered in a clinical trial registry because no results from health care interventions on human participants have been analyzed or reported.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of mind–body exercise on global cognitive function, depression, sleep disorders, fatigue level, and quality of life (QOL) in a Parkinson’s disease (PD) population.Methods: Total six English and Chinese databases were searched for articles published up to May 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating mind–body excises on non-motor symptoms of PD were included. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality, and we defined high-quality studies as having a low risk of bias in four or more domains. Global cognitive function was considered the primary outcome and was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The secondary outcomes included QOL, fatigue, depression, and sleep quality, which were measured using the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), 16-item Parkinson’s Disease Fatigue Scale (PFS-16), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and revised Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS-2), respectively. Subgroup analyses were conducted for global cognitive function and QOL to assess the optimal treatment measure across the various mind–body exercises.Results: Fourteen RCTs with 404 patients were finally included in the meta-analysis. Eight (57.14%) studies were of high quality. The pooled results showed that mind–body exercises generally had a significant advantage over the control intervention in improving global cognitive function (MD = 1.68; P = 0.0008). The dose subgroup analysis revealed that the low dose (60–120 min per week) and moderate dose (120–200 min per week) significantly increased MoCA scores compared with the control group (MD = 2.11, P = 0.01; MD = 1.27, P = 0.02, respectively). The duration subgroup analysis indicated a significant difference in the effect of the duration (6–10 and >15 weeks) on increasing MoCA scores compared with the control group (MD = 3.74, P < 0.00001; MD = 1.45, P = 0.01, respectively).Conclusion: Mind–body exercise may improve global cognitive function, sleep quality, and QOL in the PD population. In addition, low to moderate doses and appropriate durations significantly improved global cognitive function.Clinical Trial Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [CRD42021275522].

Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder that severely affects patients' quality of life and work capacity. Due to its complex aetiology and lack of clear pathological markers, conventional treatments often provide limited relief. Mind-body exercises (MBEs), including Tai Chi (TC), Qigong (QG), Daoyin, and Yoga, have gained attention for their dual physical and psychological benefits. This study evaluates these four MBEs to determine their efficacy in managing CNSLBP. A systematic search of seven databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, EBSCO, CNKI, WANFANG) identified 29 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving 3803 CNSLBP patients. Outcomes included pain scores (PS), physical functioning (PF), and quality of life (QOL). A network meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 17.0 to compare intervention effectiveness and assess direct/indirect evidence consistency. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that in terms of pain scores (PS), Qigong (QG, SUCRA = 79.5%, SMD = -3.08) had the best effect; in terms of physical functioning (PF), Qigong (SUCRA = 86.5%, SMD = -4.94) remained the best intervention; whereas, in terms of quality of life (QOL), Tai Chi (TC, SUCRA = 94.3%, SMD = 13.15) had the most significant effect. Qigong was superior in terms of pain and functional improvement, while Tai Chi performed optimally in terms of quality-of-life improvement. QG is the most effective for pain relief and improving physical function, while TC best enhances QoL. Different MBEs have distinct effects on functional outcomes, suggesting that interventions should be tailored to individual patient needs. Combining multiple approaches may optimise results for CNSLBP management. This study highlights the efficacy of mind-body exercises (Qigong, Yoga, Tai Chi) in improving pain, function, and quality of life for chronic low back pain. Qigong and Yoga excel in pain relief, while Tai Chi enhances well-being. By integrating physical movement with mental focus, these low-intensity, adaptable therapies offer a holistic, non-pharmacological approach, emphasising personalised care for long-term management.

Advances in the field of Pediatric Oncology have led to increased survival rates in children with cancer, and addressing the emotional well-being and quality of life of this specific population is a critical component of care. Mind-body therapies (MBTs) are an adjuvant modality of treatment that appears to have a positive impact on patient quality of life, patient mental health, and family perceptions toward illness. In this review, we describe several evidence-based MBTs, such as art therapy, meditation, prayer, music therapy, hypnosis and relaxation techniques, their use, and our personal experience with MBT in our institution. Current data suggests that MBTs have been effective in decreasing symptoms related to oncologic pathology in children. Based on experience in our institution, the administration of these therapies can be expanded with the use of technology and also foster family inclusion in care, which can lead to improved quality of life for the patient and family. Further studies are warranted to ascertain the effects of MBTs in childhood cancer. MBTs are increasingly important in the care of youth with oncologic disease. It is necessary to increase the quantity and quality of research for the selection and inclusion of MBT in this population.

To systematically evaluate the effects of mind-body exercise on physical ability, mental health and quality of life in stroke patients. According to the PRISMA statement, we searched Web of science, Pubmed, Embase, Sinomed, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases to collect randomized controlled trials on the effects of mind-body exercise on improving balance function, motor capacity, walking function, depression and quality of life in stroke patients. The search was conducted in January 2024. Review Manager5.3 was used for statistical analysis of the data. A total of 33 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1985 participants were included. The results of meta-analysis showed: Mind-body exercise had a significantly effect on balance ability [MD = 5.64, 95%CI = 4.17, 7.11, p < 0.00001], upper limb motor ability [MD = 6.98, 95%CI = 1.96, 12.01, p = 0.006 < 0.01], lower limb exercise capacity [MD = 3.55, 95% CI = 0.31, 6.78, p = 0.03 < 0.05], exercise capacity [MD = 7.24, 95% CI = 4.36, 10.12, p < 0.00001], depression [MD = -3.28, 95%CI = -3.86, -2.69, p < 0.00001] and quality of life [MD = 10.62, 95%CI = 5.17, 16.06, p = 0.0001 < 0.01]. However, mind-body exercise did not affect walking ability [MD = -1.82, 95%CI = -4.20, 0.57, p = 0.14 > 0.05]. The results of subgroup analysis showed: Qigong (Baduanjin) exercise for more than four weeks, 6-10 times a week, 15-40 min each time can significantly improve balance function and quality of life in stroke patients. Mind-body exercise can be used as a supplement therapy to conventional rehabilitation therapy, which is not only low intensity, high safety, but also because it is not limited to the site, can be accepted by most people and accelerate the rehabilitation process of stroke.