The Effect of Yoga on Nerve Pain Caused by Chemotherapy (Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy)

Launched by DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE · Nov 4, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether yoga can help reduce nerve pain caused by chemotherapy, a condition known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Participants in the study will be divided into three groups: one group will attend yoga classes, another will receive educational sessions about CIPN and how yoga might help, and the last group will receive standard care with medications for nerve pain. The researchers want to see how these different approaches impact balance, the risk of falling, and overall quality of life, as well as how yoga affects the feeling in the hands and feet.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be at least 18 years old, speak English, and have experienced moderate to severe nerve pain from chemotherapy. They should have completed chemotherapy at least three months before joining the study and must not have received any physical therapy or practiced yoga for CIPN in the past three months. If you decide to participate, you can expect to be randomly assigned to one of the three groups and will need to follow certain guidelines, like not starting new pain medications during the first 12 weeks. This trial is currently recruiting participants, and it aims to find out if yoga can be a beneficial treatment option for those suffering from CIPN.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • English-proficient men and women aged ≥18 years
• • Free of oncologic disease or or stable disease by clinical examination and history
• • Completed neurotoxic chemotherapy such as platinum agents, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, and bortezomib at least three months prior to enrollment
• • Diagnosis of CIPN based on symptom history, loss of deep tendon reflexes, or the presence of symmetrical stocking-glove pain, numbness, or paresthesia Grade ≥1 sensory pain based on the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0
• • Self-reported moderate to severe CIPN pain, as defined by a score of 4 or greater on the BPI-SF average pain item over the past week
• • On a stable regimen (no change in three months) if taking anti-neuropathy or other pain medications and not taking acetyl-L-carnitine 77
• • Willing to adhere to requirement that no new pain medication be taken throughout the first 12 weeks of the study period
• • Willing to adhere to all study-related procedures, including randomization to one of the three arms
• • Patient answers "Yes" to at least one factor in the question: "Do you think your balance, gait, posture, alignment, or flexibility has been affected by your experience of CIPN?"
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients who have received physical therapy or practiced yoga for CIPN in the past 3 months. As patients who have received physical therapy or practiced yoga in this time period may already be experiencing its benefits, we will exclude such patients.