The effect of sukshma vyayama joint loosening yoga on aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia (AI) in breast cancer patients: A feasibility study conducted on Facebook.

Abstract

e23129 Background: AI therapy causes joint pain in up to half of women, and up to 20% become non-compliant with treatment due to pain and discomfort. This pilot study investigated the efficacy of sukshma vyayama in improving AI-induced joint pain and evaluated the feasibility of delivering the intervention on Facebook. Methods: Breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with AI's with self-reported arthralgia were recruited via an IRB-approved announcement posted in two closed breast cancer support groups on Facebook to participate in a yoga study delivered on Facebook. Participants completed BPI, DASH, PRAI and WOMAC questionnaires before and after the study. Intervention consisted of 12 joint loosening exercises performed in a chair, once daily for 12 minutes, Monday-Friday for 4 weeks. Asynchronous video demonstrations were available in a secret Facebook group and viewing confirmed by typing "done" (time-stamped) in comments. Results: 200 women responded. 38 met the inclusion criteria/consent, 26 completed the online consent, interventions and pre/post questionnaires. Paired simple t tests results showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement in all the pain measures and quality of life parameters after yoga intervention compared to baseline. Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that it is feasible to teach sukshma vyayama to patients on Facebook and that the intervention significantly improves AI-induced arthralgia. Teaching yoga via social media may provide better access to this therapeutic modality to patients at all points in the cancer care continuum globally. [Table: see text]