Yoga has been shown to improve sleep and reduce fatigue for cancer patients and survivors.
25% - 30% of cancer survivors report persistent fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most frequently reported side effects among cancer survivors. Approximately 25-30% of cancer survivors report persistent fatigue for five to ten years post-treatment. Recent research suggests yoga interventions improve sleep and reduce persistent fatigue, which can boost quality of life, psychosocial adjustment, and inflammatory pathways. A randomized controlled study conducted in 2004 investigated the effects of seven weekly 75-minute yoga sessions for patients with lymphoma (n=79). The regular practice of controlled breathing, mindfulness techniques, and low-impact postures improved overall sleep, sleep quality and duration, and decreased participants’ use of sleeping pills.(1)
A more recent study found that three months of 90-minute biweekly Iyengar yoga classes significantly improved persistent fatigue for patients with breast cancer.(2) A meta-analysis of 13 RCTs similarly found a small but significant effect of yoga interventions on fatigue.(3) A systematic review of 24 studies found yoga interventions for women with breast cancer improve sleep quality, decrease fatigue, and increase quality of life compared to no therapy (n= 2166). The review also found that yoga interventions were more effective than psychosocial and educational interventions in reducing depression, anxiety, and fatigue.(4)
In a randomized controlled trial that compared a specialized yoga intervention to health education for breast cancer survivors, participants who practiced yoga experienced clinically significant improvements in fatigue and vigor (n=200). The yoga intervention included twice weekly 90-minute hatha yoga classes for twelve weeks. At three months, the yoga group reported less fatigue and more vitality. The group also showed decreased inflammation compared to those in the health education group. A 10-minute increase in the duration of yoga practice per day produced even greater changes.(4)
Cohen, L., Warneke, C., Fouladi, R. T., Rodriguez, M. A. and Chaoul-Reich, A. (2004). Psychological adjustment and sleep quality in a randomized trial of the effects of a Tibetan yoga intervention in patients with lymphoma. Cancer, 100: 2253–60.
Bower, J.E., Garet, D., Sternlieb, B., Ganz, P.A., Irwin, M.R., Olmstead, R. (2012). Yoga for persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial. Cancer, 118: 3766-75.
Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Klose, P., Lange, S., Langhorst, J., Dobos, G.J. (2017). Yoga for improving health-related quality of life, mental health and cancer-related symptoms in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD010802.
Kiecolt-Glaser, J.K., Bennett, J.M., Andridge, R., Peng, Shapiro, C.L., Malarkey, W.B., Emery, C.F., Layman, R., Mrozek, E.E., & Glaser, R. (2014). Yoga’s impact on inflammation, mood, and fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 32(10): 1040-49.