The impact of eurythmy therapy on fatigue in healthy adults—A controlled trial

Abstract

IntroductionFatigue is considered a principal side effect of cancer and other chronic illnesses, and has also been reported in the healthy population characterised by reduced motivation and tiredness. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of eurythmy therapy (EYT) as a promising mind–body therapy on fatigue symptoms, to assess the participants’ subjective evaluation of the EYT and the correlation with heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. MethodologySixty-eight healthy adults (mean age: 42.2; SD: 8.2) performed 10h of EYT in a group setting over a period of six weeks. A non-randomised control group (n=22; mean age: 43.6; SD: 13.7) received no intervention. Fatigue was assessed by questionnaire (multidimensional fatigue inventory, MFI) before and after the intervention. Twenty-three females from the EYT group participated in two additional HRV assessments over 24h. ResultsThe two groups showed statistically significant changes in fatigue symptoms over time (multivariate: F(1/72)=17.43; p<0.001). Furthermore, the decrease of fatigue symptoms correlated with a proportional enhancement of the higher frequency and a decrease in the ultra and very low frequency components after EYT. Although half of the participants did not expect positive effects of the EYT at baseline, all participants reported that they did profit from the EYT. ConclusionThe psychometric data match the participants’ subjective assessment of the EYT and correlates with improvements of HRV, which is probably an indicator for an improvement of autonomic regulation process by a more relaxed physical activity.