Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Program
Introduction: Balance problems arising from cancer and its treatments can significantly impact daily functionality and quality of life. Improving balance as part of a cancer treatment plan could result in better patient outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether an integrative th...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Integrative Cancer Therapies |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354241313048 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841527650575712256 |
|---|---|
| author | Mark J. Miller BS Daniel C. Hughes PhD Nydia T. Darby DPT Tim Calderon MS Darpan I. Patel PhD Monica C. Serra PhD Amelie G. Ramirez Dr. PH Alexis Ortiz PT, PhD Gustavo J. Almeida PT, PhD |
| author_facet | Mark J. Miller BS Daniel C. Hughes PhD Nydia T. Darby DPT Tim Calderon MS Darpan I. Patel PhD Monica C. Serra PhD Amelie G. Ramirez Dr. PH Alexis Ortiz PT, PhD Gustavo J. Almeida PT, PhD |
| author_sort | Mark J. Miller BS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Balance problems arising from cancer and its treatments can significantly impact daily functionality and quality of life. Improving balance as part of a cancer treatment plan could result in better patient outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether an integrative therapeutic yoga intervention can improve balance in a heterogenous population of cancer survivors (CS). Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from a 16-week feasibility study where therapeutic yoga was supplemented with psychosocial support to maximize health-related quality of life in adult CS of any stage and site. In this study, we investigated balance, as it has been shown to be an important outcome in CS due to its role in physical function and quality of life. The intervention included therapeutic yoga three times per week for 16 weeks and daily psychosocial support provided via text message. Participants’ balance was assessed while standing on a pressure mat with feet together, eyes opened and closed, for 30 seconds in each condition. Data on the “sway path distance” (displacement of the center of gravity) in the two conditions were obtained. Changes in balance after the intervention (from baseline to follow-up) were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests. Changes in balance were also assessed using responder analysis. We described the proportion of participants that improved their balance or not based on 10% difference from baseline scores. Results: Of the 29 participants included, 22 (76%) completed post-assessments. Changes in both balance assessment conditions were not statistically significant (eyes opened: 80.06 ± 374.99, p = .702; eyes closed: −1.82 ± 24.01, p = .068). Responder analysis showed that 8 participants improved their balance with eyes opened, while 8 worsened, and 6 did not change. Analysis of balance with eyes closed showed that 5 improved, 8 worsened, and 9 did not change. Conclusion: This secondary analysis of data from a heterogenous cohort of adult CS did not support our hypothesis at the group level. However, at the individual level, responder analysis indicated improved balance in some survivors. Future research is needed to determine factors related to the cancer experience which might mediate balance outcomes to inform better integrative interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb75f79442934a319c3453c10c73fe71 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1552-695X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Integrative Cancer Therapies |
| spelling | doaj-art-fb75f79442934a319c3453c10c73fe712025-01-15T11:03:35ZengSAGE PublishingIntegrative Cancer Therapies1552-695X2025-01-012410.1177/15347354241313048Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga ProgramMark J. Miller BS0Daniel C. Hughes PhD1Nydia T. Darby DPT2Tim Calderon MS3Darpan I. Patel PhD4Monica C. Serra PhD5Amelie G. Ramirez Dr. PH6Alexis Ortiz PT, PhD7Gustavo J. Almeida PT, PhD8Department of Physical Therapy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USAMays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USAOpen Hand Institute, Nydia’s Yoga Therapy, San Antonio, Texas, USAInstitute for Health Promotion and Research, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USASchool of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USABarshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USAMays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USAPhysical Therapy Program, Allen College, Waterloo, Iowa, USABarshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USAIntroduction: Balance problems arising from cancer and its treatments can significantly impact daily functionality and quality of life. Improving balance as part of a cancer treatment plan could result in better patient outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether an integrative therapeutic yoga intervention can improve balance in a heterogenous population of cancer survivors (CS). Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from a 16-week feasibility study where therapeutic yoga was supplemented with psychosocial support to maximize health-related quality of life in adult CS of any stage and site. In this study, we investigated balance, as it has been shown to be an important outcome in CS due to its role in physical function and quality of life. The intervention included therapeutic yoga three times per week for 16 weeks and daily psychosocial support provided via text message. Participants’ balance was assessed while standing on a pressure mat with feet together, eyes opened and closed, for 30 seconds in each condition. Data on the “sway path distance” (displacement of the center of gravity) in the two conditions were obtained. Changes in balance after the intervention (from baseline to follow-up) were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests. Changes in balance were also assessed using responder analysis. We described the proportion of participants that improved their balance or not based on 10% difference from baseline scores. Results: Of the 29 participants included, 22 (76%) completed post-assessments. Changes in both balance assessment conditions were not statistically significant (eyes opened: 80.06 ± 374.99, p = .702; eyes closed: −1.82 ± 24.01, p = .068). Responder analysis showed that 8 participants improved their balance with eyes opened, while 8 worsened, and 6 did not change. Analysis of balance with eyes closed showed that 5 improved, 8 worsened, and 9 did not change. Conclusion: This secondary analysis of data from a heterogenous cohort of adult CS did not support our hypothesis at the group level. However, at the individual level, responder analysis indicated improved balance in some survivors. Future research is needed to determine factors related to the cancer experience which might mediate balance outcomes to inform better integrative interventions.https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354241313048 |
| spellingShingle | Mark J. Miller BS Daniel C. Hughes PhD Nydia T. Darby DPT Tim Calderon MS Darpan I. Patel PhD Monica C. Serra PhD Amelie G. Ramirez Dr. PH Alexis Ortiz PT, PhD Gustavo J. Almeida PT, PhD Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Program Integrative Cancer Therapies |
| title | Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Program |
| title_full | Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Program |
| title_fullStr | Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Program |
| title_short | Balance Changes in Adult Cancer Survivors Participating in a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Program |
| title_sort | balance changes in adult cancer survivors participating in a 16 week therapeutic yoga program |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354241313048 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT markjmillerbs balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram AT danielchughesphd balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram AT nydiatdarbydpt balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram AT timcalderonms balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram AT darpanipatelphd balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram AT monicacserraphd balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram AT ameliegramirezdrph balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram AT alexisortizptphd balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram AT gustavojalmeidaptphd balancechangesinadultcancersurvivorsparticipatingina16weektherapeuticyogaprogram |