The Effect of Yoga Therapy on Post-operative Side-effects Among Women With Breast Cancer

The Effect of Yoga Therapy on Post-operative Side-effects Among Women With Breast Cancer: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The present study evaluates the effect of yoga therapy on scarring contractures and shoulder joint motion and range in women diagnosed with breast cancer. A single-blinded prospective, randomized controlled trial will be used.

To conduct a study to evaluate the effect of yoga therapy on scarring contractures and shoulder joint motion and range in women diagnosed with breast cancer using a single-blinded prospective, randomized controlled trial.

The aims are to test:

1. To evaluate the impact of yoga therapy on scarring contractures and range of motion in shoulder joints among women recovering from surgical treatment of breast cancer.
2. To evaluate the impact of yoga therapy on health-related quality of life and symptom distress.

Primary Hypotheses

1. Intervention and control groups mean scores on measures of shoulder movement range will show no differences at baseline or significant changes at the immediate post-intervention, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month post-intervention.
2. Mean scores of quality of life and symptom distress between intervention and control groups at the immediate post-intervention, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month post-intervention will show no differences relative to baseline.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Cantonese-speaking Chinese patients
• were newly diagnosed with breast cancer
• had completed breast cancer surgery plus chemotherapy
• were able to give consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have residual breast tumors or loco-regional metastasis after treatment
• who were practicing yoga since the diagnosis of breast cancer
• or are otherwise physically unable to yoga