Chakrabarty, J., Vidyasagar, M., Fernandes, D., Joisa, G., Varghese, P., & Mayya, S. (2015). Effectiveness of pranayama on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Yoga, 8, 47–53. 

To determine the effectiveness of pranayama yoga on fatigue during radiation therapy

Patients were randomized to receive only radiation therapy with routine care or to perform pranayama during radiation therapy. Those in the yoga group performed pranayama morning and evening five days per week for six weeks under supervision. Fatigue was assessed at the beginning and end of radiation therapy.

• N = 160   
• AGE = 57% were younger than 45 years
• FEMALES: 100%
• CURRENT TREATMENT: Combination radiation and chemotherapy
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Patients were scheduled to receive 50 Gy. All had received chemotherapy and had undergong surgery. Most had stage II or III disease.
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Seventy percent had only mild fatigue at baseline.

• SITE: Single site   
• SETTING TYPE: Inpatient    
• LOCATION: India

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Randomized, controlled trial

Cancer fatigue scale

Post-test fatigue scores in the intervention group were lower (p = 0.001), and the intervention group had a significant decline in fatigue score (p = 0.001); however, all scores continued to be in the range of mild fatigue only.

Pranayama may be helpful to prevent or reduce fatigue during treatment with radiation therapy.

• Risk of bias (no blinding)
• Risk of bias (no appropriate attentional control condition)
• Patients had only mild fatigue at all study time points.
• Although postintervention differences were significant with pranayama, clinical relevant is unclear, because fatigue was still only mild.

Participation in yoga during cancer treatment may be helpful to combat symptoms of fatigue. This is a low-risk intervention that nurses can suggest to patients to manage fatigue.