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The effect of yoga on women with secondary arm lymphoedema from breast cancer treatment
Citation
Loudon, A and Barnett, T and Piller, N and Immink, MA and Visentin, D and Williams, AD, The effect of yoga on women with secondary arm lymphoedema from breast cancer treatment, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12, (66) pp. 1-9. ISSN 1472-6882 (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Licenced under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
DOI: doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-66
Abstract
Background: Women who develop secondary arm lymphoedema subsequent to treatment associated with breast
cancer require life-long management for a range of symptoms including arm swelling, heaviness, tightness in the
arm and sometimes the chest, upper body impairment and changes to a range of parameters relating to quality of
life. While exercise under controlled conditions has had positive outcomes, the impact of yoga has not been
investigated. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of yoga in the physical and psycho-social
domains, in the hope that women can be offered another safe, holistic modality to help control many, if not all, of
the effects of secondary arm lymphoedema.
Methods and design: A randomised controlled pilot trial will be conducted in Hobart and Launceston with a total
of 40 women receiving either yoga intervention or current best practice care. Intervention will consist of eight
weeks of a weekly teacher-led yoga class with a home-based daily yoga practice delivered by DVD. Primary
outcome measures will be the effects of yoga on lymphoedema and its associated symptoms and quality of life.
Secondary outcome measures will be range of motion of the arm and thoracic spine, shoulder strength, and
weekly and daily physical activity. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, weeks four, eight
and a four week follow up at week twelve. Range of motion of the spine, in a self-nominated group, will be
measured at baseline, weeks eight and twelve. A further outcome will be the womens perceptions of the yoga
collected by interview at week eight.
Discussion: The results of this trial will provide information on the safety and effectiveness of yoga for women with
secondary arm lymphoedema from breast cancer treatment. It will also inform methodology for future, larger trials.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Yoga, Arm lymphoedema, Symptoms, Quality of life, Randomised control trial |
| Research Division: | Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Health services and systems |
| Research Field: | Health services and systems not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) |
| Objective Field: | Women's and maternal health |
| UTAS Author: | Loudon, A (Ms Annette Loudon) |
| UTAS Author: | Barnett, T (Associate Professor Tony Barnett) |
| UTAS Author: | Visentin, D (Dr Denis Visentin) |
| UTAS Author: | Williams, AD (Associate Professor Andrew Williams) |
| ID Code: | 78888 |
| Year Published: | 2012 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 20 |
| Deposited By: | UTAS Centre for Rural Health |
| Deposited On: | 2012-08-01 |
| Last Modified: | 2013-06-12 |
| Downloads: | 441 View Download Statistics |
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