In the past, we've discussed the growing number of cancer survivors who are seeking out assistance from physical therapists. Based on new research from Ohio State University, you may want to treat those who have overcome breast cancer using yoga on travel PT jobs.
Study findings
Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser lead the research, which was completed in the form of a randomized three-month trial on 200 breast cancer survivors. Half of these women were required to complete 12 weeks of 90-minute hatha yoga classes twice weekly, while the remaining participants acted as a control group. From there, data was collected regarding fatigue, depression and a variety of other measurements. Results showed that right after treatment, vitality had increased in the yoga group. Three months later, these patients also experienced lower levels of fatigue when compared to the control. It is believed that these outcomes were possible because yoga was able to reduce chronic inflammation in the breast cancer survivors, which otherwise leads to frailty and disability in addition to fatigue.
"It's pretty consistent now across a number of different studies that yoga can be useful for improving symptoms like fatigue and sleep disturbances, which are extremely prevalent in breast cancer survivors and cancer survivors, in general," Lorenzo Cohen, director of the integrative medicine program at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, explained in HealthDay.
Other benefits of yoga
There are a variety of health benefits related to yoga. According to the National Institutes of Health, this meditative practice can improve physical posture and breathing, leading to overall relaxation for many yogis. However, there are some points you should take into consideration if you plan to incorporate yoga into rehabilitation routine on travel therapy assignments.
- While yoga is safe for most patients to practice due to its low-impact movements, it is important that you make yourself knowledgeable on how to properly instruct them through the different stretches and postures.
- Keep the lines of communication open with those you are treating, as you want to ensure that you are not pushing them too hard. Encourage your patients to listen to their bodies, and you can easily make adjustments to a posture as they build their strength.
- Do your research and find out which poses should be avoided by pregnant females, glaucoma patients and those who suffer from sciatica, among other limiting conditions.
If you are planning to use yoga to help breast cancer survivors and other patients on travel physical therapy jobs, look into obtaining certification in the practice.