Heart rate variability as an indicator of the beneficial effects of Qigong and mindfulness training on the mind-body well-being of cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and fear of recurrence (FOR) are frequently experienced by cancer patients. This study aimed to improve cancer survivors' CRF, FOR, quality of life (QOL), and heart rate variability (HRV) through Qigong and mindfulness interventions. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was adopted, and 125 cancer survivors were recruited using snowball sampling. The participants were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (Qigong, mindfulness, and control) based on their needs and preferences. All groups received 4 h of nutrition education at the pretest (T0). CRF, FOR, and QOL questionnaires and HRV parameters were used as the measurement tools. Data were collected at the pretest (T0), posttest (T1), and follow-up (T2). RESULTS: Qigong had a better effect on improving CRF (ΔT1-T0 = - 0.108, ΔT2-T1 = - 0.008) and FOR (ΔT1-T0 = - 0.069, ΔT2-T1 = - 0.150) in the long term, while mindfulness improved QOL (ΔT1-T0 = 0.096, ΔT2-T1 = 0.013) better in the long term. Both Qigong and mindfulness had a short-term effect in improving SDNN (Q: ΔT1-T0 = 1.584; M: ΔT1-T0 = 6.979) and TP (Q: ΔT1-T0 = 41.601; M: ΔT1-T0 = 205.407), but the improvement in LF (Q: ΔT2-T1 = - 20.110; M: ΔT2-T1 = - 47.800) was better in the long term. CONCLUSION: HRV evaluation showed that Qigong and the mindfulness interventions had short-term effects in significantly improving overall physical and mental health, self-emotional regulation, and QOL and relieving fatigue and autonomic dysfunction. HRV may serve as an observational indicator of interventions to improve physical and mental health. The consistent practice of mind-body interventions is the primary means of optimizing overall health and well-being.

Promoting Physical and Psychological Rehabilitation Activities and Evaluating Potential Links Among Cancer-Related Fatigue, Fear of Recurrence, Quality of Life, and Physiological Indicators in Cancer Survivors.

OBJECTIVES: Cancer-related fatigue and fear of recurrence (FOR) are the most common symptoms in cancer survivors and severely affect quality of life (QOL). This study aims to promote and evaluate the effectiveness of physical and psychological rehabilitation activities for cancer survivors. METHODS: A longitudinal study with an interventional research design was conducted. A total of 80 participants were randomly assigned to experimental groups E1 (Qigong exercise [QE]) or E2 (stress management [SM]) or the control group. The E1 and E2 groups received QE and SM, respectively, as interventions once a week for 12 weeks, and effects were assessed. Cancer-related fatigue, FOR, QOL, and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated at baseline (T0), after 12 weeks (T1), and at the 3-month follow-up (T2). RESULTS: QE and SM effectively strengthened the physical and psychological functions of cancer survivors at the T1 phase. Although differences in FOR and QOL were not statistically significant, the scores were decreased and increased, respectively. Although the effects during the T2 phase were not as significant as those during T1, the score progress was maintained. The effects on HRV were significantly different among the E1, E2, and control groups at T1, which shows that the performance of both experimental groups was better than that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Physical and psychological rehabilitation activities should be practiced periodically and should be led by professional staff. Long-term educational resources and care should also be provided. HRV can be used to efficiently monitor the status of the mind-body balance and is a more suitable index than questionnaires for physical and psychological function evaluation in cancer survivors.

Clinical Evaluation of Acupuncture as Treatment for Complications of Cerebrovascular Accidents: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Subject- and Assessor-Blind Trial.

Background and Purpose. The effect of acupuncture as treatment for poststroke complications is questionable. We performed a randomized, sham-controlled double-blind study to investigate it. Methods. Patients with first-time acute stroke were randomized to receive 24 sessions of either real or sham acupuncture during an eight-week period. The primary outcome measure was change in National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Secondary outcome measures included changes in Barthel Index (BI), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain scores. Results. Of the 52 patients who were randomized to receive acupuncture (n = 28) or placebo (n = 24), 10 patients in the acupuncture group and 9 patients in the placebo group failed to complete the treatment. In total, 18 patients in the acupuncture group and 15 patients in the control group completed the treatment course. Reduction in pain was significantly greater in the acupuncture group than in the control group (p value = 0.04). There were no significant differences in the other measures between the two groups. Conclusions. Acupuncture provided more effective poststroke pain relief than sham acupuncture treatment. However, acupuncture had no better effect on neurological, functional, and psychological improvement.