Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
Authors, year country |
Main characteristics of the studied population | Sample characteristics (sample size, age) |
Intervention group comparison group |
Sleep outcome measures | Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Danhauer SC et al. 2009 [54] America |
Women (≥18 y) with breast cancer (any stage), 2–24 months post-primary treatment (surgery) following initial diagnosis and/or had a recurrence of breast cancer within the past 24 months |
44, G1 = 22, G2 = 22 Mean age: G1 = 54.3 y/o (SD = 9.6), G2 = 57.2 y/o (SD = 10.2) |
G1 = Restorative Yoga G2 = Control group (wait list control) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G2 (P = 0.97) |
Chandwani KD et al. 2010 [55] America |
Women (≥18 y) with breast cancer (stage 0-stage III) who were scheduled to undergo radiotherapy at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center |
61, G1 = 30, G2 = 31 Mean age: G1 = 51.39 y/o (SD = 7.97), G2 = 54.02 y/o (SD = 9.96) |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Control group (wait list control) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G2 (P > 0.05) |
Bower JE et al. 2012 [12] America |
Post-menopausal women (aged 40–60 y) diagnosed with Stage 0 – II breast cancer; completed local and/or adjuvant cancer therapy (with the exception of hormonal therapy) at least 6 months and experiencing persistent cancer-related fatigue |
31, G1 = 16, G2 = 15 Mean age: G1 = 54.4 y/o (SD = 5.7), G2 = 53.3 y/o (SD = 4.9) |
G1 = Iyengar Yoga G2 = Control group (health education) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G2 (P > 0.05) |
Kiecolt-Glaser JK et al. 2014 [56] America |
Women (stage 0-IIIa breast cancer survivors in age from 27 to 76 y) had completed cancer treatment within the past 3 years (except for tamoxifen / aromatase inhibitors) and were at least 2 months post surgery or adjuvant therapy or radiation |
200, G1 = 100, G2 = 100 Mean age: G1 = 51.8 y/o (SD = 9.8), G2 = 51.3y/o (SD = 8.7) |
G1 = Hatha Yoga G2 = Control group (wait list control) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: G1 vs. G2 (P = 0.03) |
Ratcliff CG et al. 2016 [57] America |
Women (aged ≥18 y) with breast cancer (diagnosed with stage 0 to III) scheduled to undergo daily adjuvant XRT (radiotherapy treatment) for 6 weeks at MD Anderson Cancer Center |
163, G1 = 53, G2 = 56, G3 = 54 Mean age: G1 = 52.38 y/o (SD = 1.35), G2 = 51.14 y/o (SD = 1.32), G3 = 52.11 y/o (SD = 1.34) |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Stretching G3 = Control group (wait list control) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G3 (P > 0.05) |
Taylor T R et al. 2018 [71] America |
Women (aged 18–65 y), no pregnant, breast cancer survivor of at least 12 months post-surgery and treatment (excluding hormone therapy), free of medical contraindications reported by their physician |
33, G1 = 18, G2 = 15 Mean age: G1 = 54.9 y/o (SD = 8.8), G2 = 52.6 y/o (SD = 8.2) |
G1 = Restorative yoga G2 = Control group (wait list control) |
ISI |
The total score of ISI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G2 (P = 0.89) |
Chaoul A et al. 2018 [58] America |
Women (aged ≥18 y) with breast cancer stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM) I to III who were undergoing chemotherapy, were able to read, write and speak English; and were scheduled to undergo neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy (weekly or every 21 days) at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
227, G1 = 74, G2 = 68, G3 = 85 Mean age: G1 = 49.5 y/o (SD = 9.80), G2 = 50.4 y/o (SD = 10.3), G3 = 49.0 y/o (SD = 10.1) |
G1 = Tibetan Yoga G2 = Stretching group G3 = Control group (Usual care) |
PSQI Actigraphy |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G3 (P = 0.32) Actigraphy: Statistically significant finding in sleep efficiency (SE) G1 vs. G3 (P = 0.02), wake after sleep onset (WASO) G1 vs. G3 (P = 0.0003), but no statistically signify finding on sleep onset latency (OL) G1 vs. G3 (P = 0.89), total sleep time (TST) G1 vs. G3 (P = 0.19) |
Porter LS et al. 2019 [59] America |
Women (aged ≥18y) receiving treatment for metastatic breast cancer had a life expectancy ≥9 months as estimated by their treating oncologist; could speak and read English |
63, G1 = 43, G2 = 20 Mean age: G1 = 56.3 y/o (SD = 11.6) G2 = 59.4 y/o (SD = 11.3) |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Control group (social support group) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G2 (P > 0.05) |
Elavsky S et al. 2007 [60] America |
Sedentary or low-active middle-aged women (aged 42–58 y) during the menopausal transition who had no history of surgical menopause and had not used hormone therapy or at least 6 months. Baseline analyses revealed that overall sleep quality was poor in the sample (Mean PSQI = 6.21, SD = 3.46) with 88% of sample scoring |
163, G1 = 61, G2 = 63, G3 = 39 Age range:42–58 y/oMean age:49.9 y/o (SD:3.6) |
G1 = Yoga G2 = walking G3 = Control group |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G3 (P > 0.05) |
Afonso RF et al. 2012 [61] Brazil |
Postmenopausal women (aged 50–65 y) with insomnia diagnosed by specialist based on DSM4, amenorrhea for 1 year or longer, had follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ≥ 30 mIU/ml, and had a BMI (Body mass index) < 30 kg/m2 |
61, G1 = 16, G2 = 21, G3 = 24 Age range:50–65 y/o |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Passive stretching G3 = Control group |
ISI Polysomnography |
The total score of ISI improved: G1 vs. G3 (P < 0.05) Polysomnography: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G3 (P > 0.05) |
Newton KM et al. 2014 [62] America |
Previous sedentary women (aged 40–62 y) in menopausal transition or postmenopausal or had hysterectomy with FSH ≥ 20 m IU/mL and estradiol ≤50 pg/mL, with ≥14 vasomotor symptoms /week in each of three consecutive weeks and had not used hormone therapy for past 1 month. |
249, G1 = 107, G2 = 142 Age range:40–62 y/o |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Control group (usual activity) |
PSQI ISI |
The total score of PSQI improved: G1 vs. G2 (P = 0.049) The total score of ISI improved: G1 vs. G2 (P = 0.007) |
Buchanan, D.T. et al. 2017 [63] America |
Women (aged 40–62 y) in menopausal transition or postmenopausal or had hysterectomy with FSH ≥ 20 mIU/mL and estradiol ≤50 pg/mL, generally in good health; experiencing 14 or more hot flashes/night sweats per week (on 2-w screening diaries); and hot flashes rated as bothersome or severe on four or more occasions/week |
186, G1 = 52, G2 = 54, G3 = 80 Mean age: G1 = 55.3 y/o (SD = 3.9), G2 = 55.6 y/o (SD = 3.5), G3 = 54.2 y/o (SD = 3.7) |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Exercise G3 = Control group (usual activity) |
Actigraphy | Statistically no significant finding in sleep efficiency (SE) G1 vs. G3 (P > 0.05), wake after sleep onset (WASO) G1 vs. G3 (P > 0.05), sleep onset latency G1 vs. G3 (P > 0.05), total sleep time (TST) G1 vs. G3 (P > 0.05) |
Ide MR et al. 2008 [64] Brazil |
Women with fibromyalgia syndrome (1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria) with time availability |
40, G1 = 20, G2 = 20 Mean age: G1 = 46.61 y/o (SD = 9.80), G2 = 45.47 y/o (SD = 8.65) |
G1 = Yoga breathing exercises in warm water G2 = Control group |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: G1 vs. G2 (P = 0.004) |
Innes KE et al. 2012 [65] America |
Nonsmoking women (aged 45–79 y), post-menopausal (≥12 months amenorrheic) physical inactive (exercising less than 20 min, 3 times per week) and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and/or waist circumference ≥ 88 cm) with restless legs syndrome |
20, G1 = 10, G2 = 10 Mean age: G1 = 58.4 y/o (SD = 6.32), G2 = 58.9 y/o (SD = 9.10) |
G1 = Iyengar Yoga G2 = Control group (education film group) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: G1 vs. G2 (P = 0.01) |
Cheung C et al. 2014 [66] America |
Community-dwelling women (aged 65–90 y) had symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of knee diagnosis for at least 6 months without previous training in any form of yoga |
36, G1 = 18, G2 = 18 Mean age: G1 = 71.9 y/o, G2 = 71.9 y/o |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Control group (wait list control) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G2 (P = 0.15) |
Fang R et al. 2015 [67] China |
Female nurses (aged of 25–51 y) with normal communication abilities and willingness to participate study |
120, G1 = 61, G2 = 59 Mean age: G1 = 35.13 y/o (SD =10.98), G2 = 36.05 y/o (SD = 9.91) |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Control group |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: G1 vs. G2 (P < 0.001) |
Ebrahimi M et al. 2017 [68] Iran |
Women (aged 38–53 y) with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus lack of any diabetic complications, no participation in any kind of regular aerobic exercise and resistance training over the last 6 months, BMI < 40 kg/m2, not being under insulin treatment |
45, G1 = 15, G2 = 15, G3 = 15 Mean age: G1 = 48.18 y/o, G2 = 44.69 y/o, G3 = 47.93 y/o |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Aerobic exercise G3 = Control group |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: G1 vs. G3 (P < 0.05) |
Rao M et al. 2017 [69] India |
Female teachers, aged between 30 and 55 years were willing to participate in the study and had no previous exposure to any form of yoga practice. |
60, G1 = 30, G2 = 30 Mean age: G1 = 43.0 y/o (SD = 9.77) G2 = 40.0 y/o (SD = 7.32) |
G1 = Yoga-based, mindfulness relaxation G2 = Control group (wait list control) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: G1 vs. G2 (P < 0.01) |
Nalgirkar SP et al. 2018 [70] India |
Women (aged 20–50 y) and diagnosed for primary dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) with no underlying systemic pathology |
30, G1 = 15, G2 = 15 Mean age: G1 = 29.85 y/o (SD =4.45) G2 = 30.85 y/o (SD =4.42) |
G1 = Yoga G2 = Control group (wait list control) |
PSQI |
The total score of PSQI improved: No statistically significant finding G1 vs. G2 (P > 0.05) |
BMI Body max index, DSM4 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria, DUB Dysfunctional uterine dysfunction, ECOG-PS Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, FSH Follicle-stimulating hormone, G1 Group 1, G2 Group 2, G3 Group 3, ISI Insomnia Severity Index, OA Osteoarthritis, OL Onset latency, PSQI Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, SE Sleep efficiency, TST Total sleep time, WASO Wake time after sleep onset, XRT Radiotherapy treatment