According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is defined as a persistent subjective sense of physical, emotional, and/or cognitive tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or cancer treatment. CRF is a common symptom among patients with cancer. It has been reported in approximately 50%–75% of cancer patients at the time of diagnosis, and the prevalence increases to 80%–96% in patients undergoing chemotherapy and to 60%–93% in patients receiving radiotherapy. CRF is a strong and independent predictor of decreased overall patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese health-promoting exercise. It is an easily modifiable, low-to-moderate intensity form of physical exercise. Tai Chi has been found to have positive effects on Parkinson's disease and chronic heart failure, improves lung function and activity tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and improves balance and reduces falls in older adults. It also has been shown to enhance mental health and improve psychological conditions, including reducing geriatric depression, reducing anxiety, and enhancing self-efficacy. Tai Chi also has been found to have positive effects in cancer patients. 

They aimed to assess the effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise for cancer-related fatigue in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy. 

A randomized trial was conducted of Tai Chi exercise as compared with low-impact exercise as a control intervention. Exercises were practiced every other day, a one-hour session for 12 weeks for each of the study groups. The primary end point was a change in total score of the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF). Secondary end points were changes in five subscale scores of the MFSI-SF. All assessments were repeated at three time points, T0: before first course of chemotherapy; T1: before third course of chemotherapy; and T2: at the end of the fourth course of chemotherapy. 

Between January 2012 and December 2014, 96 patients were enrolled in this trial. At six and 12 weeks, the Tai Chi group had a lower MFSI-SF total score compared with the control group (59.5 ± 11.3 vs. 66.8 ± 11.9, P < 0.05; 53.3 ± 11.8 vs. 59.3 ± 12.2, P < 0.05). At six weeks, the Tai Chi group had lower MFSI-SF general subscale scores (18.1 ± 4.6 vs. 20.4 ± 4.5, P < 0.05) and physical subscale scores (17.5 ± 4.4 vs. 19.1 ± 4.5, P < 0.05), and higher MFSI-SF vigor subscale scores (14.5 ± 3.3 vs. 11.6 ± 3.4, P < 0.05), compared with the control group. But no significant differences were found in emotional subscale (20.2 ± 3.6 vs. 20.0 ± 3.5, P > 0.05) and mental subscale (18.2 ± 4.0 vs. 18.9 ± 3.9, P > 0.05) scores between the Tai Chi group and the control group. At 12 weeks, the MFSI-SF subscale scores showed the same trends as at six weeks.

Tai Chi is an effective intervention for managing cancer-related fatigue in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy, especially for decreasing general fatigue and physical fatigue, and increasing vigor. 

Results like these don't just come from waving your arms around and zoning out in the park for 10 minutes a day 

 

If you want to be healthy & strong again, there's work you have to do, and skills you have to learn. 

 

But it doesn't have to be hard, either. 

 

We've put together a guide you can follow, and in just a few weeks you'll see undeniable results!