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CompletedNCT02848989Updated Feb 8, 2023

Qigong For PPSP In Breast Cancer Pain In Breast Cancer Survivors

An interventional study of Qigong Mind-Body Exercise in Breast Cancer Surgery Pain, Breast Cancer and Stage 0-III Breast Cancer, sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-02-08.

Sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
21
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Studies have shown that on-going pain following breast surgery is common and may limit the ability to participate in physical activity, cause tiredness, difficulty in daily chores/activities as well as other problems.

This study is evaluating whether participating in a 12-week Qigong program (pronounced chee kung), an exercise program that involves gentle movements combined with breathing/relaxation techniques, also known as mind-body exercise, leads to improvement of pain, physical function, and quality of life among breast cancer survivors that have significant pain following surgery.

Read the detailed description

This is a pilot/feasibility study designed to look at the potential benefits of a 12-week program of Qigong mind-body exercise program. The study applies to women who have completed physical therapy treatment on symptoms such as pain, and difficulty moving/strength of arm in women who are experiencing on-going symptoms after breast cancer surgery. The results of this study will be used to help design future studies of the effect of Qigong programs in breast cancer survivors.

02

Conditions studied

  • Breast Cancer Surgery Pain
  • Breast Cancer
  • Stage 0-III Breast Cancer

Keywords

  • Breast Cancer Surgery Pain
  • Breast Cancer
03

In context

Breast Neoplasms

12,544 studies on the registry are indexed under Breast Neoplasms; 2,892 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 21 is below the median of 72 across 9,302 interventional studies indexed under Breast Neoplasms.

Browse Breast Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is the lead sponsor of 813 studies on the registry; 124 are open to participants now.

Of its 113 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 77 (68%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • History of Stage 0-III breast cancer;
  • Persistent post-surgical pain at least 3 months after completion of surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation;
  • Completion of a course of physical therapy

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unstable cardiovascular disease in the last 6 months
  • Psychiatric disorders or conditions that would preclude participation in the study intervention (e.g. untreated major depression or psychosis, substance abuse, severe personality disorder);
  • Metastatic breast or other cancer;
  • Participation in more than 240 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week (as determined by Leisure Score Index questionnaire)
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Recent history of attending regular QMBE or similar classes (e.g. yoga or tai chi classes), (i.e.20 or more classes in the past 6 months).
  • Currently enrolled in a physical therapy course
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
21 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Qigong Mind-Body Exercise (QMBE)

    After the screening procedures confirm that you are eligible to participate in the research study: * Breast cancer survivors with persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP) into a 12-week program of Qigong mind-body exercise (QMBE). * Outcome assessments related to pain, function, and quality of life

    Other: Qigong Mind-Body Exercise

Interventions

  • OtherQigong Mind-Body Exercise

    An exercise program that involves gentle movements combined with breathing/relaxation techniques

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Rate of completion of QMBE intervention

    Complete recruitment of target enrollment of 21 participants within 12 month timeframe.

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0

    Total number of adverse events sustained from participation in QMBE will be collected for each participant through home practice logs for at home QMBE participation and instructors will report any adverse events that occur during QMBE class on attendance logs. Any adverse events observed will be evaluated according to the DFCI/Harvard Cancer Center guidelines. The study will be considered safe if zero adverse events are observed/reported from participation in prescribed QMBE classes and/or at home practice.

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in Quality of life

    QOL will be assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Breast Symptom Index (FACT-B+4). This instrument consists of 42 items that measure physical, emotional, social and functional well-being, as well as breast cancer specific symptomology associated with upper extremity dysfunction.

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. Degree of Pain

    Degree of pain will be measured by the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI SF) and a Pain Medication Log.21 The BPI SF consists of 9 items that measure the severity of pain, impact of pain on daily function, location of pain, pain medications and amount of pain relief in the past 24 hours or the past week. Reliability coefficients for the BPI Severity and Interference scales ranged from .82 to .95

    Time frame: 6 months

  3. Grip Strength

    Grip strength of both hands will be assessed using the Jamar® Hand Dynamometer. Measurement will be recorded to the nearest 0.5 kg, and repeated an average of three times

    Time frame: 3 months

  4. Gait & Postural Control

    Gait \& postural control will be kinematically assessed during standing and walking using an 8-camera motion analysis system (Vicon 512, Oxford, UK) using standard protocols employed in prior mind-body studies as well as clinical evaluations for both children and adults with walking abnormalities due to mobility-limiting conditions, at the Motion Analysis Laboratory at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

    Time frame: 3 months

  5. Pain Catastrophizing

    Pain catastrophizing scale will be used to assess catastrophic thinking associated with pain. This instrument consists of 13 items that measure rumination, magnification, and helplessness related to pain.

    Time frame: 3 months

  6. Shoulder Strength

    Will be assessed using manual muscle testing (MMT).

    Time frame: 3 months

  7. Range of Motion

    Will be assessed using standard goniometric measurement.

    Time frame: 3 months

  8. Fatigue

    Fatigue will be assessed by the 13 item FACIT-F fatigue subscale. This validated instrument measures the intensity of fatigue experienced during the 7 days before questionnaire administration.

    Time frame: 3 months

  9. Self-esteem

    Self-esteem will be measured by the 10 item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. This validated instrument measures global self-worth by measuring both positive and negative feelings about the self.

    Time frame: 3 months

  10. Anxiety & Depression

    Anxiety and depression will be measured by the Hospital and Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). This validated instrument consists of 14 items that measure current feelings of anxiety and depression.

    Time frame: 3 months

  11. Stress Levels

    Stress levels will be measured by the 10 item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). This validated instrument measures the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful.

    Time frame: 3 months

  12. Mindfulness

    Mindfulness will be assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Scale (MAIA). This 32-item instrument measures a patient's bodily and emotional awareness and ability to self-regulate these factors.

    Time frame: 3 months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 8, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02848989
Lead sponsor
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Collaborators
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Responsible party
Jennifer A. Ligibel, MD (Dr., M.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 29, 2016
Start date
Apr 4, 2017
Primary completion
Mar 14, 2018
Completion
Feb 3, 2023
Last update
Feb 8, 2023

Study contacts

Jennifer A Ligibel, MD
principal investigator · Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Feb 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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