Impacts of yoga versus routine exercise on motor proficiency, quality of life, fatigue, and motivation in childhood cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial


Karademir S., Kara O. K., Koklukaya H. N., ÇETİN S. Y., TAYFUN KÜPESİZ F., KÜPESİZ O. A., ...Daha Fazla

Journal of Pediatric Nursing, cilt.91, ss.137-145, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 91
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.pedn.2026.08.014
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Pediatric Nursing
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.137-145
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Child, Exercise, Motivation, Motor skills, Neoplasms, Yoga
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week yoga program on motor proficiency, quality of life, fatigue, and motivation in childhood cancer patients. Design and methods In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 41 children with cancer (22 males, 19 females; ages 6–12 years) were randomly assigned to the yoga group ( n = 20) or control group ( n = 21). The yoga group attended sessions twice a week for 8 weeks, whereas the control group continued their routine exercise program. The primary outcome was motor proficiency assessed by the Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, short form (BOT-2 SF). Secondary outcomes included the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Cancer Module, Child Fatigue Scale, and Pediatric Motivation Scale. Outcomes were measured at baseline and post-intervention. The repeated measures ANOVA was applied. The trial registration number was NCT05434871 . Results A significant group-by-time interaction was found in fine motor integration [ F (1, 39) = 5.09, p = .03, ηp2 = 0.12], agility [ F (1, 39) = 4.59, p = .04, ηp2 = 0.11], and total BOT-2 scores [ F (1, 39) = 4.98, p = .03, ηp2 = 0.11], favoring the yoga group. Interest-enjoyment scores of PMS decreased in the yoga group [ F (1, 39) = 4.56, p = .04, ηp2 = 0.11]. Within-group improvements were observed in both groups for quality of life, fatigue, bilateral coordination, balance, agility, upper limb coordination, and total BOT-2 score ( p < .05). Conclusions Yoga may enhance fine and gross motor skills among children with cancer. Strategies to enhance motivation should be considered. Practice implications Yoga is a promising approach to vary routine exercise programs of pediatric oncology rehabilitation. Exercises improve quality of life of children with cancer.