Table 3 Details of exercise interventions and their effect of reported outcomes

Yoga based interventions

Banerjee et al. (2007)

Intervention group

18–24 supervised yoga sessions for 6 weeks consisting of slow stretching, asanas and breathing exercises

Control group

3–4 supportive counselling sessions in 6 weeks and light exercises

HADS—anxiety scores ^a

Yoga group: ↓48.2 %; control group: ↑28 %

HADS—depression scores ^a

Yoga group: ↓57.5 %; control group: ↑24 %

Perceived stress scale ^a

Yoga group: ↓20.4 %; control group: no change

DNA damage ^a

Yoga group: ↑934.6 %; Control group: ↑1028.5 %

Adverse events none

Raghavendra et al. (2007)

Intervention group

Post-CT bedside yoga relaxation for 30 min; home based yoga module aided by audio and video cassettes; supervised sessions once in 10 days at home by a trainer

Control group

30–60 min supporting counselling (information and coping preparation regarding CINV, food aversions and nutrition) during hospital visits for CT

MANE scores

Yoga group

Control group

Post CT nausea frequency^b

3.6 ± 1.6

4.5 ± 0.9

Post CT nausea intensity^b

2.3 ± 1.2

3.4 ± 1.1

Anticipatory nausea intensity^b

0.6 ± 1.03

1.7 ± 1.5

Anticipatory vomiting intensity^c

0.3 ± 0.67

0.87 ± 1.3

STAI ^a

29.2 ± 3.8

37.5 ± 7.6

BDI

6.6 ± 4.6

14.2 ± 6.6

FLIC ^a

142.1 ± 10.2

111.7 ± 25.5

Adverse events none

Rao et al. (2008a)

Intervention group

Instructor administered pranayama and yogic relaxation techniques at bed-side prior to surgery and during post-operative period

Control group

Four in-person supportive counselling and shoulder exercise sessions

Yoga group

Control group

Days drain retained^a

4.7 ± 1.6

6.4 ± 2.5

Postop duration (days)

21.7 ± 9.4

24.6 ± 10.9

Suture removal interval (days)^c

10.3 ± 3.6

12.7 ± 5.2

Postop complication^c

6.1 %

22.2 %

TNF-α levels ↓27.3 %; ↑40.5 %

(pg/ml)^a

Adverse events NR

Rao et al. (2008b)

Intervention group

Instructor administered pranayama and yogic relaxation techniques at bed-side prior to surgery and during post-operative period; followed by 4-week home based program monitored telephonically once a week and aided by audio taped instruction

Control group

Four in-person supportive counselling and shoulder exercise sessions and home program

STAI-anxiety state score ^b

Yoga group: ↓23 %; Control group: ↓22.6 %

STAI-anxiety state score ^b

Yoga group: ↓22 %; Control group: ↓15 %

BDI ^b

Yoga group: ↓4 %; Control group: No change

FLCI ^b

Yoga group: ↓2 %; Control group: ↓8 %

IgG ^c

Yoga group: ↑5.3 %; Control group: ↑43.1 %

IgA ^b

Yoga group: ↑2.7 %; Control group: ↑53.3 %

IgM

Yoga group: ↑12.5 %; Control group: ↑25 %

CD4+ ^c

Yoga group: ↓3.6 %; Control group: ↓3.5 %

CD8+ ^b

Yoga group: ↓1.9 %; Control group: ↓3.7 %

CD56+ ^b

Yoga group: 0.7 %; Control group: ↓4.3 %

Adverse events none

Vadiraja et al. (2009a)

Intervention group

At least three in-person sessions/wk of a set of breathing exercises, pranayama and yogic relaxation techniques for 6 weeks during adjuvant RT in hospital and self-practice as homework on the remaining days. Audio taped instructions provided for home practice sessions

Control group

15-min counselling sessions every 10 days for 6 weeks

Yoga group

Control group

PANAS scale

Positive affect^b

27.8 ± 7.1

23.3 ± 8.3

Negative affect^b

12.9 ± 10.39

21.8 ± 10.8

EORTCQoL C30

Physical function

73.2 ± 25.2

68.9 ± 30.1

Role function

79.8 ± 34.4

72.8 ± 39.9

Emotional function^b

75.1 ± 21.1

59.2 ± 23.3

Cognitive function^c

90.5 ± 15.8

80.7 ± 24.1

Social function

54.9 ± 23.9

49.9 ± 24.2

Adverse events none

Vadiraja et al. (2009b)

Same as in Vadiraja et al. (2009a)

Yoga group

Control group

RSCL

Psychological distress^b

4.2 ± 3.3

7.7 ± 3.4

Physical distress^c

10.8 ± 8.1

15.0 ± 8.0

Activity level

20.2 ± 5.6

17.7 ± 6.2

EORTCQoL C30

Fatigue^b

33.2 ± 23.8

50.5 ± 22.3

Pain^b

24.4 ± 28.5

41.3 ± 28.9

Dyspnea

6.67 ± 15.2

9.8 ± 16.9

Insomnia^c

24.4 ± 30.4

37.9 ± 31.7

Nausea and vomiting

9.6 ± 19.6

9.9 ± 17.3

Appetite loss^c

17 ± 23.1

31.1 ± 28.1

Diarrhoea

0.7 ± 4.9

3.8 ± 12.8

Constipation

8.1 ± 23.7

9.1 ± 21.9

Adverse events none

Vadiraja et al. (2009c)

Same as in Vadiraja et al. (2009a)

Yoga group

Control group

Diurnal salivary cortisol

6 a.m.^c

0.22 ± 0.15

0.36 ± 0.24

9 a.m.

0.19 ± 0.14

0.24 ± 0.23

9 p.m.

0.16 ± 0.16

0.16 ± 0.14

Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale

HADS anxiety score^a

4.8 ± 3.3

8.1 ± 3.8

HADS depression score^b

4.1 ± 3.4

6.5 ± 3.7

Perceive stress scale^a

15.1 ± 4.8

20.1 ± 5.8

Adverse events none

Kumar et al. (2013)

Intervention group

Participants were trained in Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam through a 18-h contact program over a three-day period by trained yoga teachers. The program included teachings for self‑awareness

Ujjayi breath, Bhastrika pranayama and rhythmic breathing. A 20-min home program was given for practice at home. In addition, they also received counselling and pain treatment as per WHO ladder of NSAID and morphine group of medicines

Control group

WHO ladder of NSAID

and morphine group of medicines and counselling

Yoga group

Control group

Serum cortisol^b

(ngm/l mean ± SE)

341.4 ± 51.4

549.2 ± 69.5

Pain perception

↓By three points in on 0–10 verbal scale of pain in the intervention group compared to control group

Chakrabarty et al. (2013)

Intervention group

6-week hospital based program consisting of Sheethali, Brahmari and Nadisodhna Prayanama. Program duration of 18 min/session, twice a day × 5 days/week

Control group: no intervention

Yoga group

Control group

Protein thiols^a

µmol/l

271.2 ± 91.2

216.1 ± 62.8

Glutathione ^b

mg/hHb

(Median, IQR)

24.2;

18.3, 30.5

19.1;

18.0–24.6

Adverse events none

Physiotherapy based interventions

Chopra et al. (2006)

One supervised and two unsupervised 15–20 min sessions of inspiratory and expiratory manoeuvres and forced abdominal expiration techniques for 8–10 days

Pre training (mean)

Post training (mean)

Breath hold time (s)

31.4

44.5

Tidal volume (ml)

560

1160

Adverse events not reported

Gautam et al. (2011)

Warm up with active ROM exercise for shoulder, PRE for upper limb muscle groups, exercise program hand-out with logbook, and telephonic monitoring once a week

PRE program

Intensity: start with 50–60 % of 10 RM and progress as tolerated

Repetitions: 1 set of 8–10 repetitions, increase to 12–15 repetitions

Sets: start with 1 set, progress to 2 sets of 12–15 repetitions before increasing weight by 5–10 %

Frequency: 5 days/week

Pre-exercise

Post-exercise

SF 36—PCS^c

41.2

46.3

SF 36—MCS^c

38.5

48.3

Limb volume (ml)^a

2306.3 ± 627.8

2183.4 ± 597.4

Limb circumference (cm)

MCP joints^c

19.1 ± 1.4

19.0 ± 1.3

Wrist joint^a

16.4 ± 2.9

16.2 ± 1.9

15 cm DLE^a

22.1 ± 3.1

21.4 ± 2.8

10 cm PLE^a

31.0 ± 4.3

30.0 ± 4.4

Adverse events not reported

Kumar et al. (2013)

Mechanism based physical therapy consisting of educational, cognitive-behavioural therapy and physical therapy approaches

Pre-intervention

Post-intervention

BPI—Cancer pain^a

75.25 ± 3.77

40.12 ± 4.08

EORTCQoL C30 global health status/QoL^a

42.5 ± 9.1

68 ± 6.59

Adverse events not reported

Samuel et al. (2013)

Intervention group

6-week brisk walking programme and active exercise programme for muscle groups of upper limb and lower limb. Intensity: RPE of 3–5/10; duration: 15–20 min

Frequency: 5 days/week

Progression as tolerated

Control group

Advised to remain as physically active as possible

Home exercise program after study completion

Intervention group

Control group

6MWD^a

Median change; (IQR)

20;

(0, 46.)

−100.8;

(−189, 53)

SF 36—PCS

No change

↓18 %

SF 36—MCS

↑11.7 %^c

↓75.2 %^b

Adverse events none

Speech therapy based interventions

Subbarao et al. (1991)

Group I: commenced planned ST 2–3 weeks post operatively

Group II: received ST 1 yr after surgery

Speech therapy which consisted of individual and group therapy sessions

↑improved proficiency in esophageal speech at various levels (Belch, Monosyllable, Bisyllable and simple sentences) in group I compared to group II

Adverse events none

Premalatha et al. (1997)

20–25 ST sessions of 30–40 min* 1–2 sessions/day

ST included Inhalation technique, Inhalation combined with changing neck position and digital pressure.

↑Quality of voice and Speech intelligibility; better in patients using digital pressure.

(No statistical analysis available)

Adverse events None

Bachher et al. (2002)

Supervised and home based ST to correct dyslalia and deglutition. 4 week supervised program: first 2 weeks @ 25–30 min/day; 3rd week @ 3 sessions/week; 4th week @ 2 sessions/week

3 months of home program: 15-min therapy sessions after every 1 h

Improvement in speech and deglutition

(No statistical analysis available)

Adverse events not reported

John et al. (2011)

15 sessions of 30 min duration

Program details: range of motion exercises, compensatory swallowing techniques and counselling on the altered swallowing manoeuvre

Improvement in swallowing, speech intelligibility, speech rate and articulation

Adverse events not reported