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) |