Breast Cancer Patients Benefit from Yoga

[cwes99_03]

Has anyone read the articles today about this? I'm looking for more info on the study that is being reported about.

abc news

Study: Yoga Helps Breast Cancer Patients HEALTH

June 6 - KGO - Women who are being treated for breast cancer may want to try yoga.

 

A new study by researchers at the University of Texas shows breast cancer patients on radiation treatment who did yoga felt better psychologically.

 

Experts say yoga incorporates meditation, relaxation, controlled breathing, and stretching.

 

But the study also found no differences in the level of depression or anxiety of women with breast cancer.

I'm thinking of all kinds of possible causes that these UTexas people didn't consider. The biggest question is "Were the participants in this study volunteers or were they forced against their will to participate in yoga as part of their therapy?" The psychological effects could be purely coincidental as those who are more likely to try the yoga probably would have had similar effects from any type of group meeting for exercise.

[Celeste]

For those like myself, that have or do practice Yoga, this discovery would make perfect sense. (I am also a breast cancer survivor)

The differences in physiological and psychological differences between Yoga and say a half hour of racket ball, are not subtle.

I would highly doubt that patients were "forced" into anything, considering the fact that the treatments for cancer would leave the majority feeling less then cable of participation. Yoga isn't a simple practice of exercise to master. The room temp is usually kept around 110 F* and requires an deep level of dedication.

However, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

 

 

Physiological Benefits of Yoga

 

Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium

Pulse rate decreases

Respiratory rate decreases

Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hyporeactors)

Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases

EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)

EMG activity decreases

Cardiovascular efficiency increases

Respiratory efficiency increases

Gastrointestinal function normalizes

Endocrine function normalizes

Excretory functions improve

Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase

Breath-holding time increases

Joint range of motion increase

Grip strength increases

Eye-hand coordination improves

Dexterity skills improve

Reaction time improves

Posture improves

Strength and resiliency increase

Endurance increases

Energy level increases

Weight normalizes

Sleep improves

Immunity increases

Pain decreases

Steadiness improves

Depth perception improves

Balance improves

Integrated functioning of body parts improves

 

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

 

Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase

Mood improves and subjective well-being increases

Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase

Social adjustment increases

Anxiety and Depression decrease

Hostility decreases

Concentration improves

Memory improves

Attention improves

Learning efficiency improves

Mood improves

Self-actualization increase

Social skills increases

Well-being increases

Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase

Self-acceptance increase

Attention improves

Concentration improves

Memory improves

Learning efficiency improves

Symbol coding improves

Depth perception improves

Flicker fusion frequency improves

Yoga Benefits versus Exercise Benefits

 

Parasympathetic Nervous System dominates

Subcortical regions of brain dominate

Slow dynamic and static movements

Normalization of muscle tone

Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments

Low caloric consumption

Effort is minimized, relaxed

Energizing (breathing is natural or controlled)

Balanced activity of opposing muscle groups

Noncompetitive, process-oriented

Awareness is internal (focus is on breath and the infinite)

Limitless possibilities for growth in self-awareness

 

Yoga is amazing IMHO. :(

[cwes99_03]

OK, humble opinions aside, do you see the doubt that I raise in this study without having seen it. I'm not starting a thread on yoga here, i'm trying to raise questions about a study that all the news organizations are raving about. Anybody know the source of the study?

 

Yoga as far as I know doesn't require 110F temperatures.

[Celeste]

My apologies. Perhaps this will help.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/112222253/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16374892&dopt=Abstract

 

My apologies again. I should have clarified: High tempertures (105 to 110F) are not for everyone and are only part of Yoga training. One of the main purposes of yoga practice is to learn how to overcome the resistance of the nervous system and relax muscles using awareness.

[cwes99_03]

Yes, if this is the correct study, that second link was helpful. I want to reread it a couple of times to make sure that I catch it all, but I have some preliminary results. Most of what I have gotten out of this is that it was a preliminary 7-week study of two groups of cancer survivors who had been diagnosed over 4 years earlier on average.

1) the measureable differences between the intervention group (those who were given instruction in yoga) and the control group (those who were not) were psychosocial in nature. Of course past studies have shown that any physical exercise is beneficial psychologically for most people.

2) There were only 38 participants in the 7-week study 20 in the intervention group and 18 in the control group. While the results do show some correlation, a larger study is required to further investigate. This much is stipulated in the reading.

 

Celeste, I couldn't get to the first website you linked. Could you copy and paste the important information for me?

[Celeste]

Cwes....the material is copyrighted. Here is the main page link.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/home

On the left side is a search engine. Type in Yoga and breast cancer; it is the first abstract Titled: A pilot study of yoga for breast cancer survivors: physical and psychological benefits.

 

This site has many hard to find abstracts concerning everything from biology to social sciences. You might also find it useful in the future. ;)

 

Celeste

[EWright]

cw,

 

I was studying to become a radiation therapist at one point. The women participating in the study would certainly not have been forced. Docotors cannot even force an adult patient to undergo radition treatments or chemo, let alone a study on the affects of yoga.

 

As for the effects, it is likely that many types of relaxation (medetation, music therapy, massage) and or moderate exercise (stretching, tai chi, pool therapy), could enduce similar improved sense of well being. Yoga may have some results unique to it, but I don't believe the overall results are unique to yoga.

 

Having cancer and undergoing chemo or radiation therapy is both difficult both physically and psychologically. Therefore, any form of relaxation or exercise that helps to 'motivate' the patient emotionally or physically without being strenuous should help to bring back a better sense of normalcy and well-being IMHO.