Exploring the benefits of yoga for improving sleep quality in cancer survivors

This study examined whether yoga could improve sleep quality in cancer survivors experiencing difficulties with their sleep.

Sleeping difficulties are reported by 30% to 90% of cancer survivors, and is one of the most distressing adverse effects reported by patients. Treatment options for impaired sleep include sedatives (which may be addictive), cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle interventions (such as exercise programs).

Exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality, although the most beneficial type of exercise is still unclear. A combination of Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga has been gaining in popularity, and may be especially helpful for the treatment of sleeping difficulties. However, no clinical trials to date have fully evaluated the use of yoga as therapy for cancer survivors. The current trial examined the efficiency of a guided yoga program to improve sleep quality in cancer patients after finishing all curative treatments.

In this study, 410 cancer survivors reporting difficulty sleeping (75% of whom had breast cancer), were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. One group attended late afternoon yoga classes twice per week for four weeks, while the second group received standard care as directed by their doctor. Standard care included sedatives or over-the-counter sleeping aids. Changes in sleep quality were reported by patients through the completion of a simple survey.

Based on the subjective reports provided by the patients, yoga participants showed large improvements in sleep quality compared to the standard care group. Yoga led to significant improvements in global sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbances, subjective sleep quality, and daytime dysfunction. Yoga participants also decreased their dependence on sleeping medication by 21%, while on average, standard care patients increased their sleeping medication consumption by 5%.

This trial concluded that yoga is beneficial for treating sleeping difficulties in cancer survivors, and can help reduce the use of sedatives.

The results of this study were based solely on subjective patient reports.

Consult with your physician on how to improve your quality of life, and sleep, after cancer treatments.