Abstract | PURPOSE: To examine the effect of regular Iyengar yoga practice on measures of self-perceived psychosocial function and diurnal salivary cortisol secretion in stage II-IV breast cancer survivors (n = 18). DATA SOURCES: Women were randomly assigned to attend yoga practice for 90 min twice weekly for 8 weeks (n = 9) or to a wait-listed, noninterventional control group (n = 9). Traditional Iyengar yoga routines that progressively increased in difficulty as participants gained strength and flexibility were used. At baseline and after the 8-week study period, women completed self-report instruments to document various aspects of psychosocial and physical functioning, and collected salivary samples for cortisol analysis four times during the day for two consecutive days. CONCLUSIONS: The yoga group had lower morning and 5 p.m. salivary cortisol and improved emotional well-being and fatigue scores. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:
Breast cancer survivors are at risk for chronic psychosocial distress that may alter activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in aberrant regulation of cortisol secretion and increased risk of immune dysfunction and cancer progression. Regular yoga practice may be a low-risk, cost-effective way to improve psychosocial functioning, fatigue, and regulation of cortisol secretion in breast cancer survivors. These findings require validation with a larger randomized study.
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Authors | Jacquelyn Banasik, Holly Williams, Mel Haberman, Sally E Blank, Robert Bendel |
Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
(J Am Acad Nurse Pract)
Vol. 23
Issue 3
Pg. 135-42
(Mar 2011)
ISSN: 1745-7599 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 21355946
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | ©2010 The Author(s) Journal compilation ©2010 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adaptation, Psychological
- Breast Neoplasms
(prevention & control, psychology)
- Circadian Rhythm
- Disease Progression
- Early Detection of Cancer
- Emotions
- Exercise Therapy
- Fatigue
(prevention & control)
- Female
- Humans
- Hydrocortisone
(analysis, biosynthesis)
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
- Middle Aged
- Pituitary-Adrenal System
- Psychometrics
- Saliva
(chemistry)
- Self Report
- Statistics as Topic
- Stress, Psychological
(prevention & control)
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Yoga
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