Yoga decreases anxiety in childhood cancer patients and their parents

A new study reports that yoga can reduce the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment experienced by childhood cancer patients and their parents. The findings were published in the September/October 2010 edition of Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, published by the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON).

"Parents and adolescents showed a decrease in anxiety and increase in sense of well-being" following yoga sessions conducted for the study, the authors wrote. Megan V. Thygeson, BA, Mary C. Hooke, PhD, RN, CNS, CPON, Jeanine Clapsaddle, MA, LAMFT, CCLS, Angela Robbins, MS, RN, CNP, and Kristin Moquist, MA, RN, CNP, CPON wrote the study, which they conducted at the Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

"Yoga is emerging as an effective complementary therapy in adult oncology," the authors wrote, "promising benefits for decreasing symptom distress including fatigue, insomnia, mood, and stress resulting in improved quality of life." The authors explored a new area, focusing on childhood cancer patients and their families, noting that parents experience stress and anxiety because of the uncertainty of the disease and the suffering of their children.

Children in the study between the ages of 7-12 did not show any change in their anxiety or sense of well-being. However, adolescents between the ages of 13-18 years and the parents of hospitalized patients showed significant improvement.

"Teens reported that that they felt relaxed and calmer, and that it (yoga) was fun," the authors wrote. Parents detailed even greater benefits. Parents found the yoga sessions were relaxing, allowed them to stretch their muscles and strengthen their bodies, and relieved stress. They felt better about themselves, and those who participated in the sessions with their children felt it helped them bond with their children.

Yoga lowers heart rate and blood pressure and improves circulation and oxygenation. It also improves muscle tone, circulation, pulmonary function, coordination and flexibility. "Larger studies are needed to evaluate the influence of yoga on other distressing patient symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain and nauseam" the authors wrote.