Tai Chi for Fatigue in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
January 19, 2016 -
The December 2015 issue of the
Journal of pain and symptom management
published a Chinese study that aimed to assess the effectiveness of Tai
Chi exercise for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with lung cancer
undergoing chemotherapy.
The researchers conducted a randomized trial of Tai
Chi exercise as compared with low-impact exercise as a control intervention.
Exercises were practiced every other day, a one-hour session for 12 weeks for
each of the study groups. The primary endpoint was a change in total score of
the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF). Secondary
endpoints were changes in five subscale scores of the MFSI-SF. All assessments
were repeated at three time points, T0: before first course of chemotherapy; T1:
before third course of chemotherapy; and T2: at the end of the fourth course of
chemotherapy.
Between January 2012 and December 2014, 96 patients
were enrolled in this trial. At six weeks and 12 weeks, the Tai Chi group had a
lower MFSI-SF total score compared with the control group. At six weeks, the Tai
Chi group had lower MFSI-SF general subscale scores and physical subscale
scores, and higher MFSI-SF vigor subscale scores, compared with the control
group. But no significant differences were found in emotional subscale and
mental subscale scores between the Tai Chi group and the control group. At 12
weeks, the MFSI-SF subscale scores showed the same trends as at six weeks.
The conclusion from the study: Tai Chi is an effective
intervention for managing cancer-related fatigue in patients with lung cancer
undergoing chemotherapy, especially for decreasing general fatigue and physical
fatigue, and increasing vigor.
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