Annette Loudon|Tony Barnett|Neil Piller|Maarten A. Immink|Andrew D. Williams
Yoga management of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a randomised controlled pilot-trial
University of Tasmania|University of Tasmania|Flinders University|University of South Australia|University of Tasmania
secondary arm lymphoedema continues affect least 20 women treatment breast cancer requiring lifelong professional treatment selfmanagement holistic practice yoga may offer benefits adjunct selfmanagement option aim small pilot trial gain preliminary data determine effect yoga women stage one breast cancerrelated lymphoedema bcrl paper reports results primary secondary outcomesparticipants randomised baseline testing receive either 8week yoga intervention n 15 consisting weekly 90minute teacherled class 40minute daily session delivered dvd usual care waitlisted control group n 13 primary outcome measures arm volume lymphoedema measured circumference extracellular fluid measured bioimpedance spectroscopy secondary outcome measures tissue induration measured tonometry levels sensations pain fatigue limiting effects measured visual analogue scale vas quality life based lymphoedema quality life tool lymqol measurements conducted baseline week 8 postintervention week 12 four weeks cessation interventionat week 8 intervention group greater decrease tissue induration affected upper arm compared control group p 0050 well greater reduction symptom subscale qol p 0038 difference arm volume lymphoedema extracellular fluid groups week 8 however week 12 arm volume increased intervention group control group p 0032an 8week yoga intervention reduced tissue induration affected upper arm decreased qol subscale symptoms arm volume lymphoedema extracellular fluid increase benefits last cessation intervention arm volume lymphoedema increased research trials longer duration higher levels lymphoedema larger numbers warranted definitive conclusions made