CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02564835Updated Dec 19, 2018

Effects of Yoga on Cognitive and Immune Function in Colorectal Cancer

An interventional study of Yoga and Physical Activity in Colorectal Neoplasms, sponsored by University of Michigan. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-12-19.

Sponsored by University of Michigan · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
27
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
21 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if individuals with colorectal cancer enjoy yoga and to begin to assess whether yoga is effective in improving attention and immune function in individuals with colorectal cancer compared to physical activity and usual care.

Read the detailed description

The proposed study will use a prospective RCT pilot design with three arms (yoga, resistance and flexibility exercise, usual care) and a total of 60 men and women who have completed therapy (> 6 months post primary or adjuvant therapy) to accomplish the specific aims. Equal numbers of men and women will be randomized into each arm of the study. Participants will be tested before, immediately after, and 3-months after treatment or similar time points for the usual care group. After data has been collected, participants who were randomized to the resistance and flexibility exercise group (active control group) or to the usual care group will be provided with the opportunity to participate in the yoga intervention.

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Conditions studied

  • Colorectal Neoplasms
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In context

Colorectal Neoplasms

5,599 studies on the registry are indexed under Colorectal Neoplasms; 1,459 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 27 is below the median of 77 across 4,123 interventional studies indexed under Colorectal Neoplasms.

Browse Colorectal Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Michigan is the lead sponsor of 1,475 studies on the registry; 196 are open to participants now.

Of its 162 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 128 (79%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • a history of any stage new or recuurent colorectal cancer
  • great then 6 months post treatment for colorectal cancer
  • report not fully recovered from the effects of cancer and cancer treatment
  • no clinical signs or symptoms of brain metastasis
  • normal (or corrected to normal) hearing and vision
  • able to read and write English

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • conditions that could affect participation in yoga such as spinal disease or unstable joints
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
27 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Yoga

    The Yoga Program includes two 90-minute classes every week tor a total of 12 weeks.

    Other: Yoga

  • Active comparator
    Physical Activity

    The Physical Activity Program includes two 90-minutes classes every week for a total of 12 weeks.The intervention is based on the Exercise for People Living with Cancer program and will include nine resistance exercises (e.g. standing push up, squats, standing leg curl) and 8 flexibility exercises (e.g. shoulder stretch, quadriceps stretch, hamstrings and lower back stretch) targeted for the whole body as well as a brief warm up and cool down (walking).

    Other: Physical Activity

  • No intervention
    Usual Care

    Participants randomized to this arm will receive standard care only.

Interventions

  • OtherYoga

    The yoga curriculum in this study is based is based on the Integral Yoga approach that includes branches of yoga associated with cognitive and immune benefits (Hatha, Raja). Within the Integral Yoga approach, physical poses, breathing techniques and mediation practices were chosen to provide benefits to the nervous system, immune system, musculoskeletal system and gastrointestinal system. Poses will be adapted to individual needs. The number of repetitions and/or length of hold will be increased through standard progression.

  • OtherPhysical Activity

    The physical activity intervention is based on the Exercise for People Living with Cancer program. The intervention will include nine resistance exercises (e.g. squats) and 8 flexibility exercises (e.g. shoulder stretch) targeted for the whole body as well as a brief warm up and cool down (walking). Exercises will be adapted to individual needs. The number of repetitions and/or length of hold will increase through standard progression.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Program Evaluation

    The program evaluation was developed by the investigator to measure the participant experience and satisfaction with the interventions.

    Time frame: At the end of the 12-week yoga and physical activity programs.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Attention Network Test

    The Attention Network Test is a computerized test that asks participants to determine the direction of an arrow in the center of the screen (left or right). The center arrow can be located above or below the center fixation and is accompanied by flankers and cues. Overall attention and the three networks are assessed by measuring accuracy and response times for correct answers and how response times for correct answers are influenced by flankers, alerting cues, and spatial cues.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months.

  2. Digit Span

    Digit Span asks participants to repeat a series of numbers in the order they were given (Digit Span Forward) or reverse order (Digit Span Backward). The score is the number of digits recalled in the correct order before two failed trials. Digit Span is a test of attention and cognitive control.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

  3. Digit Symbol Substitution Test

    The Digit Symbol Substitution Test provides participants with a key of numbers associated with symbols and ask participants to fill in numbered blank squares with the appropriate symbol. The score is the number of blank square filled in within 120 seconds. Digit Symbol Substitution test is a test of attention and cognitive control.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

  4. Trail Making Test

    The Trail Making Test asks participants to draw a line connecting numbered circles (Part A) and a line connecting numbered circles and letters (Part B). The score is the time taken to complete the task. The Trail Making Test is a test of attention and cognitive control.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

  5. Attentional Function Index

    The Attentional Function Index is a questionnaire that asks participants to rate their function on everyday tasks requiring attention and cognitive control from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely well or a great deal). The score is the average of 13 questions. The internal consistency ranges from 0.76 to 0.94 in individuals with cancer.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

  6. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Cognitive Function

    The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function is a questionnaire that measures perceived cognitive function and impact on quality of life from 0 (not at all) to 4 (very much). It includes 27 items grouped into 5 subscales The internal consistency is 0.96 on each subscale in individuals with cancer.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

  7. Pro-inflammatory Markers

    Serum levels of interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-12, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor II, and c-reactive protein will be determined by cytometric bead array assay on a Luminex analyzer (MPXHYCTO-60K, Millipore; LXSAH, R \& D Systems). Serum levels of neopterin will be determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (RE59821, IBL International). Blood samples will be collected between 8 am and 10 am.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

Other outcomes

  1. Attendance Log

    The attendance log was developed by the investigator to measure adherence to the intervention and dose of the intervention received. Participants sign the attendance log at each yoga or physical activity class

    Time frame: Throughout the 12-week program.

  2. Adherence and Attrition Log

    The adherence and attrition log was developed by the investigator to describe reasons for not attending a class or dropping out of study. Participants will be asked if they would like to tell research team reason for missing a class or dropping out (e.g. too busy) so we can improve the intervention.

    Time frame: From date of signed informed consent until last yoga/physical activity class or research visit - up to 6 months

  3. Safety Log

    The safety log was developed by the investigator to describe any adverse event related to the yoga and physical activity programs.

    Time frame: At each yoga and physical activity class throughout the 12-week program

  4. Demographic and Medical Information Questionnaires

    The demographic and medical information questionnaires were developed by the investigator to describe sample characteristics (such as age and stage of disease).

    Time frame: At baseline before randomization to study arm

  5. Profile of Mood States-Brief Form

    The Profile of Mood States-Brief Form asks participants to rate how they have been feeling (e.g. tense) in the past week on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). The anxiety and depressed mood subscales will be used to describe the sample. Each subscale has five items and the score is the sum of the five items. The internal consistency of the anxiety and depressed mood subscales range from 0.86 to 0.93 in individuals with cancer.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 6 months

  6. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale

    The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale will be used to assess cognitive training or uptake of the yoga intervention. The questionnaire has 15 items and measures the frequency of mindful states in cancer.

    Time frame: Changes from baseline to 6 monts

  7. Beliefs about Treatment

    The Benefits about Treatment Question was developed by investigators at University of California, Los Angeles to assess a participant's expectations about the yoga and physical activity interventions and their effect on outcomes.

    Time frame: Changes from baseline to end of 12-week intervention

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Study locations

1 site
  • University of Michigan School of Nursing
    Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 19, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02564835
Lead sponsor
University of Michigan
Collaborators
Oncology Nursing Society
Responsible party
Moira Visovatti (Principal Investigator, University of Michigan) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 1, 2015
Start date
Sep 2015
Primary completion
Sep 2017
Completion
Sep 2017
Last update
Dec 19, 2018

Study contacts

Moira Visovatti, PhD
principal investigator · University of Michigan

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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