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A systematic review of yoga interventions as integrative treatment in breast cancer

  • Review – Clinical Oncology
  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Breast cancer is a significant public health problem all over the world. The treatment of breast cancer has many side effects. Yoga has been suggested as an integrative form of therapy for breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to systematically review yoga interventions for breast cancer and determine the efficacy of these interventions as integrative modalities of treatment in altering various outcomes related to breast cancer.

Methods

Studies were included if (1) exclusively targeted breast cancer patients; (2) published between 2013 and May 2016; (3) written in the English language; (4) published in a peer-reviewed journals indexed in MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, ERIC and Alt Health Watch; (5) they used any type of yoga as a part of or the whole intervention; and (6) utilized a quantitative design for evaluation.

Results

A total of 23 interventions met the inclusion criteria. Majority of the studies had been done in USA (n = 9), followed by Germany (n = 3), India (n = 3) and Turkey (n = 2). One study each was from Australia, Canada, Iran, Taiwan, Poland, and UK. Twenty-two of the 23 interventions had statistically significant changes in studied outcome measures.

Conclusions

Despite the limitations of wide variabilities in sample size, lack of standardized approach in conducting yoga, multiplicity of outcome measures, varying durations of interventions and lack of using behavioral theories, yoga as an integrative form of therapy for breast cancer is a promising approach. More interventions utilizing yoga need to be tested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA

    Manoj Sharma & Vimala Charitha Lingam

  2. College of Health Sciences, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Manoj Sharma

  3. Department of Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Lincoln Memorial University, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN, 37752, USA

    Vinayak K. Nahar

Authors
  1. Manoj Sharma
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  2. Vimala Charitha Lingam
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  3. Vinayak K. Nahar
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Correspondence to Vinayak K. Nahar.

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We have observed appropriate ethical guidelines and legislation in conducting the study. Since this was a systematic review, approval was not required by the institutional review board.

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Since this was a systematic review, informed consent was not required.

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Sharma, M., Lingam, V.C. & Nahar, V.K. A systematic review of yoga interventions as integrative treatment in breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 142, 2523–2540 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2269-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2269-2

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