Walking is more effective than yoga at reducing sleep disturbance in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Sleep medicine reviews Vol. 47; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Tang, Mei-Fen, Chiu, Hsiao-Yean, Xu, Xinyi, Kwok, Jojo Yan, Cheung, Denise Shuk Ting, Chen, Chun-Yuan, Lin, Chia-Chin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Cancer patients; Exercise; Humans; Neoplasms - complications; Neoplasms - psychology; PSQI; Sleep disturbance; Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - prevention & control; Walking - psychology; Yoga - psychology; Sleep disturbance; Cancer patients; RCT; Exercise; CI; SMD; PSQI
• ISSN: 1087-0792; 1532-2955
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2019.05.003

This review aimed to determine whether walking is more effective than yoga at improving sleep disturbance in cancer patients. A systematic search of randomized controlled trials was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Airiti Library, and other health-related databases. Twenty-five studies were identified with a total of 1918 participants. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index was the most commonly used outcome measurement tool, and moderate-intensity walking was the most frequently used intervention. The majority of the included subjects were breast cancer patients. Overall, walking significantly improved sleep disturbance compared to yoga (p = 0.01). Statistically significant moderators included adherence rate for walking (p < 0.001) and allocation concealment and outcome measurement tool for yoga (p = 0.04; p = 0.03). We concluded that walking is more effective than yoga in improving sleep disturbance in cancer patients. Thus, moderate-intensity walking is recommended for cancer patients with sleep disturbance.