Yoga helps relieve stress in children with cancer

New findings suggest that yoga may help alleviate the stress of cancer diagnosis and certain treatments, especially in children with cancer and their parents.

This study was published in the Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing.

For the study, children diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 7 and 18 as well as their parents were analyzed. The study took place at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Children between 7 and 12 years old did not appear to gain any benefit from yoga in terms of reduced anxiety or an overall better mood. Children between the ages of 13 and 18 years old and their parents, however, improved significantly.

Teenagers explained feeling more relaxed and more calm, on top of enjoying the yoga workouts. Parents felt more relaxed, stronger, and less stressed overall. They also reported enjoying the additional bonding time with their children. Most individuals also claimed an improvement to their self-image.

Many children and their parents noticed less anxiety and felt better overall after engaging in yoga for this study. Researchers attribute parental stress to be related to the uncertainty of outcome and what little control they have over the situation of their children.

Authors of this study explain how yoga is becoming popular among adult patients as well, largely due to the positive side-effects gained. Yoga helps relieve stress, insomnia, and fatigue.

Larger studies are recommended to determine the significance of yoga in a similar environment.