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Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Hatha Yoga in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Head Neck Cancer
Interventions
Other: Baseline Study Measures
Behavioral: Yoga Evaluation
Behavioral: Yoga Program
Behavioral: Yoga Practice Plan
Other: Study Assessments
Registration Number
NCT01951664
Lead Sponsor
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Brief Summary

Treatment for head and neck cancer can result in marked musculo-skeletal impairment (MSI). This study will examine the effects of Hatha Yoga as a therapeutic modality to address MSI.

Detailed Description

The use of aggressive treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) particularly combined modality treatment regimens has resulted in an increase in survival. Unfortunately, this improvement has come with a marked increase in acute and late-effects. Acute HNC treatment-related toxicities have been clearly and extensively documented; however, data pertaining to adverse late-effects, those most likely to impact the survivor's long term symptom burden, functionality, and overall quality of life (QOL), are limited. This pilot study will be conducted to examine the feasibility of tailored Hatha Yoga as a therapeutic modality to address MSI in patients who have survived HNC.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • >/= 18 years of age
  • >3 months post-treatment of HNC
  • no active cancer
  • ability to understand English in order to complete questionnaires
  • willing to participate in the guided and home Yoga practice
  • willing to drive to the study site
  • willing and able to provide informed consent
  • completed medically indicated physical therapy
  • medical clearance by study medical oncologist
Exclusion Criteria
  • a prior cancer diagnosis within the past three years (except basal cell, surgically treated squamous cell skin cancer, early prostate cancer under observation)
  • have received radiation therapy or chemotherapy for any condition other than primary HNC
  • medical conditions that would prohibit the safe implementation of a Yoga practice (e.g., vertigo, dementia)
  • active Yoga practice within the past 6 months

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Modified Yoga Program for HNC SurvivorsYoga Practice PlanFollowing the completion of baseline study measures, participants will be randomized to either do go directly into a Yoga program or to an 8 week wait-list control group. Those in the yoga program will undergo an initial Yoga Evaluation. Patients will receive customized yoga guided practice program, a home practice plan with ongoing modifications. Instructors will assess compliance. A satisfaction assessment is conducted at study-end.
Modified Yoga Program for HNC SurvivorsYoga EvaluationFollowing the completion of baseline study measures, participants will be randomized to either do go directly into a Yoga program or to an 8 week wait-list control group. Those in the yoga program will undergo an initial Yoga Evaluation. Patients will receive customized yoga guided practice program, a home practice plan with ongoing modifications. Instructors will assess compliance. A satisfaction assessment is conducted at study-end.
Modified Yoga Program for HNC SurvivorsStudy AssessmentsFollowing the completion of baseline study measures, participants will be randomized to either do go directly into a Yoga program or to an 8 week wait-list control group. Those in the yoga program will undergo an initial Yoga Evaluation. Patients will receive customized yoga guided practice program, a home practice plan with ongoing modifications. Instructors will assess compliance. A satisfaction assessment is conducted at study-end.
Modified Yoga Program for HNC SurvivorsYoga ProgramFollowing the completion of baseline study measures, participants will be randomized to either do go directly into a Yoga program or to an 8 week wait-list control group. Those in the yoga program will undergo an initial Yoga Evaluation. Patients will receive customized yoga guided practice program, a home practice plan with ongoing modifications. Instructors will assess compliance. A satisfaction assessment is conducted at study-end.
Wait list controlBaseline Study MeasuresThose in the wait list group will have the same assessments as those in the yoga program over the same period of time.
Modified Yoga Program for HNC SurvivorsBaseline Study MeasuresFollowing the completion of baseline study measures, participants will be randomized to either do go directly into a Yoga program or to an 8 week wait-list control group. Those in the yoga program will undergo an initial Yoga Evaluation. Patients will receive customized yoga guided practice program, a home practice plan with ongoing modifications. Instructors will assess compliance. A satisfaction assessment is conducted at study-end.
Wait list controlStudy AssessmentsThose in the wait list group will have the same assessments as those in the yoga program over the same period of time.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of patients who complete a modified Yoga program for HNC survivorsat 8 weeks

Number of patients that complete an 8-week course of guided yoga sessions and that complete a Participant Practice Log to document their non-guided home yoga sessions

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in cervical ROMat 8 weeks

Change from baseline in cervical ROM, measured in degrees of neck movement

Change in head and neck-related treatment systemsat 8 weeks

Change from baseline in the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey: 9 questions on treatment-related symptoms with 0 = least amount of problems to 10 = most amount of problems. Higher scores indicate increased treatment-related distress

Change in Brief Pain Inventoryat 8 weeks

Change from baseline in scores for the Brief Pain Inventory: 9 items with 0 = no pain to 10 = pain as bad as you can imagine. Higher sum of scores indicate greater pain burden

Change in Anxiety and Depression Scale8 weeks

Change from baseline in scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Inventory with a score of \>/= 8 as possible cause for mental health referral

Change in Body Image Quality of Life Inventoryat 8 weeks

Change from baseline in scores in the Change in Body Image Quality of Life Inventory. 18 questions with minus 3 = very negative effect to plus 3 = very positive effect. sum of scores with higher scores indicating a more positive body image

Change in range of motion (ROM) jaw maximal inter-incisoral openingat 8 weeks

Change in ROM from baseline in the jaw maximal inter-incisoral opening, measured in millimeters (mm)

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

🇺🇸

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

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