Effects of Yoga, Strength Training and Aerobic Exercise on Cognition in Adult Cancer Survivors

The investigators propose to compare the effects of a 12-week, supervised, site-based group yoga intervention on cognitive function, functional fitness, and well-being in middle-aged cancer survivors. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of three exercise conditions: a yoga group, an aerobic walking group or a strength training group. All sessions (2-3 times per week) will be led by a trained exercise leader for a total of 150 minutes of exercise each week for the 12-week intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cancer; Exercise; Cancer-related Problem/Condition
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Yoga; Behavioral: Stretching and Toning; Behavioral: Aerobic Walking

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 78
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Urbana, Illinois, United States, 61801
      • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 30 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 30-70 years of age
• Cancer diagnosis
• 1 year since last cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation)
• Not planning to receive treatment during study period
• Completion of Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
• Ambulatory and absence of health conditions that may be exacerbated by yoga, walking, or strength training
• Physician consent (if deemed necessary)
• Low-active, i.e. less than 150 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous exercise, no current yoga practice (including within last six months)
• Intention to remain in the Champaign-Urbana area over the study duration
• Willingness to be randomly assigned to one of the three groups (yoga, aerobic walking, strength training)
• Comfortable with reading, writing, and speaking English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Below 30 or above 70 years of age
• Cancer diagnosis of the brain
• Less than 1 year since last treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation) or plans to receive treatment during study
• Determined ambulatory or 'high risk' based on responses to PAR-Q
• High-active (exercising more than 150 minutes/week in the last six months)
• No consent from physician
• Intent to be away from the Champaign-Urbana area for an extended period of time during the study
• Inability to communicate effectively in English

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Yoga Practice; Participants will be led through a beginner yoga course taught by a certified yoga instructor. Classes will meet twice a week for 75 minutes each for the duration of 12 weeks. Sessions will focus on yoga postures, breathing, and meditative practices and may utilize mats, blocks, belts, and blankets.	Behavioral: Yoga; 12 weeks, total of 150 minutes of exercise per week.
Active Comparator: Stretching and Toning; This 12 week, progressive stretching and toning course will aid participants in building whole body strength and flexibility by utilizing weights, chairs, mats, and various other exercise equipment. Sessions will meet three times a week for 50 minutes and will offer 'easy' and 'hard' modifications taught by an exercise leader.	Behavioral: Stretching and Toning; 12 weeks, total of 150 minutes of exercise per week.
Experimental: Aerobic Walking; Participants will partake in treadmill walking that encourages them to reach a pre-determined heart rate range. Sessions will be conducted three times a week for 50 minutes, and offer participants to self-select a speed and incline to meet their target heart rate zone.	Behavioral: Aerobic Walking; 12 weeks, total of 150 minutes of exercise per week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cognitive Function	Participants will complete part of the NIH Toolbox measures that assess cognitive function.	Change from baseline to 12 weeks will be reported

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cardiovascular Function	Participants will complete a submaximal exercise test to reach a target heart rate within 85% of the age-predicted maximum.	Change from baseline to 12 weeks will be reported

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Feasibility: Recruitment and retention rates	Proportion of participants randomized relative to total contacts, Proportion of participants who complete follow-up questionnaires,	Baseline to 12-weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Neha Gothe, Ph.D., M.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Gothe NP, Erlenbach ED, Streeter SL, Lehovec L. Effects of yoga, aerobic, and stretching and toning exercises on cognition in adult cancer survivors: protocol of the STAY Fit pilot randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2020 Sep 15;21(1):792. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04723-2.

Helpful Links

• Exercise Psychology Lab

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): May 30, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 22, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): August 28, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 5, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 30, 2023
• Last Verified: June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 18922

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No