Roscoe, J. A., Matteson, S. E., Mustian, K. M., Padmanaban, D., & Morrow, G. R. (2005). Treatment of radiotherapy-induced fatigue through a nonpharmacological approach. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 4, 8–13.

The intervention involved polarity therapy for a 60- to 70-minute session. A trained therapist used anatomical hand positions (connectors) to examine energy flow, discover trigger points, and restore homeostatic energy flow. Polarity therapy promotes healing, relaxation, and well-being by unblocking and balancing energy flow and reestablishing homeostasis within the human energy field.

• The sample included 15 women older than 18 years in the third week of radiotherapy for breast cancer with a fatigue level greater than 2.
• Average age was 52.5 years (range 35–72).
• Fourteen of 15 patients were Caucasian.

Single radiotherapy center

Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.

This was a pilot study with three arms:

• Arm 1:  standard care
• Arm 2:  one polarity therapy treatment
• Arm 3:  two polarity therapy treatments one week apart.

• Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI)
• Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT-F)

A statistically significant improvement was observed in fatigue and health-related quality of life in 10 patients who received polarity therapy versus five who did not. There may have been a dose effect. Eight of 10 patients reported improvement.

• The study had a very small sample.
• Certification was required.