Effect of Iyengar yoga practice on fatigue and diurnal salivary cortisol concentration in breast cancer survivors

J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2011 Mar;23(3):135-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00573.x. Epub 2010 Nov 5.

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.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Breast Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Disease Progression
  • Early Detection of Cancer
  • Emotions
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Fatigue / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis*
  • Hydrocortisone / 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*

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone