Can Yoga Help Myeloma Patients on Active Treatment?

Can yoga help myeloma patients improve their physical and mental health? Researchers from the University of Arizona have opened a national clinical trial to answer that question. 

As we know, multiple myeloma patients can experience physical issues caused by their myeloma or treatment such as anemia, kidney issues, bone fractures, high calcium and fatigue. Patients will typically have seasons on and off of therapy over the course of their lifetime.

As they continue along their treatment journey, their symptom burdens can increase, significantly affecting their quality of life. 

Yoga is a method of movements, physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation practices that has become a popular method of exercise.

Research in other cancers has shown that yoga can improve quality of life, physical symptoms like fatigue and sleep, and mental health like anxiety and depression for cancer patients. There is evidence that even a single 40-minute yoga session for hospitalized blood cancer patients can improve fatigue, pain and mental symptoms. 

The University of Arizona in Tucson has a large practice dedicated to integrative or complementary medicine in additional to standard of care myeloma treatments. Shaunak Pandya, MD of the University of Arizona in Tucson has opened a clinical trial to understand the impact on physical, mental and emotional symptoms where myeloma patients can join remotely for yoga sessions.

The researchers would like to know how feasible yoga is for patients on active treatment and if yoga can improve physical symptoms (e.g. pain, fatigue, sleep), psychological symptoms (e.g. anxiety, depression), and overall health-related quality of life.

How the Study Works

Patients who are on active treatment can be screened for the study using this button below. 

Yoga Study

One group in the study will begin the yoga classes immediately, while the control group will wait a period of time for their classes. 

Once included in the study, participants will join a weekly online 40-minute yoga class for 12 weeks. Each session will be led by Shraddha Hilda Oropeza, a certified yoga instructor or a trained substitute, consisting of mindfulness-based asanas, or yoga movements and postures. Patients will use the MyDataHelps app to record their results. 

The study will measure the number of patients who join and overall completion of the program. The use of a Apple Watch or Fitbit connection will be optional and a Fitbit device will be provided to patient participants as part of the study (to keep). All participants will be provided with yoga mats for the study and to keep past the study.

The study will also evaluate the short-term impact of weekly yoga for physical symptoms (pain, fatigue, sleep) and psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression) after each weekly session. The study will also evaluate the impact of the 12-week yoga program on quality of life. 

While HealthTree will not be facilitating this study, we are aware of the interest and importance of physical activity within the myeloma community and wanted to make you aware of this research opportunity.