In 2006, Nicole Culos‐Reed, et. al., conducted study about Cancer survivors. They often face numerous challenges stemming from both the disease and its treatments. Physical activity has emerged as a crucial aspect of their recovery, offering relief from symptoms and enhancing overall well-being. In this pilot study, researchers aimed to investigate the potential physical and psychological benefits of a 7-week yoga program specifically tailored for breast cancer survivors.

The study enrolled participants after pre-screening them using standardized measures. Twenty individuals were randomly assigned to the yoga intervention group, while eighteen served as controls. All participants underwent pre- and post-testing assessments before and after the yoga program, respectively.

The yoga program participants, primarily comprising breast cancer survivors, demonstrated notable improvements in psychosocial variables compared to the control group post-intervention. These improvements were observed in global quality of life, emotional function, and reduction in diarrhea symptoms (all p’s <0.05). Additionally, trends towards improvement were observed in several other psychosocial variables such as emotional irritability, gastrointestinal symptoms, cognitive disorganization, mood disturbance, tension, depression, and confusion (all p’s <0.10). Both the program participants and controls also showed significant enhancements in various physical fitness parameters from pre- to post-intervention.

The preliminary findings suggest that yoga holds promise as a beneficial physical activity option for breast cancer survivors, offering significant physical and psychological improvements. Further research is warranted to explore its efficacy across a broader spectrum of cancer diagnoses, including male subjects, with larger sample sizes and longer program durations in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This study sets the stage for future investigations into the potential of yoga as an adjunctive therapy for cancer survivors.

Reference: Nicole Culos‐Reed, S., Carlson, L. E., Daroux, L. M., & Hately‐Aldous, S. (2006). A pilot study of yoga for breast cancer survivors: physical and psychological benefits. Psycho‐Oncology: Journal of the Psychological, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Cancer, 15(10), 891-897.