Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS): A Systematic Review of the YOCAS Program's Impact on Physical and Psychological...

Cancer survivors frequently experience prolonged physical and psychological symptoms including cancer-related fatigue (CRF), sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and musculoskeletal pain. Conventional treatments for these symptoms have demonstrated limited efficacy, emphasising the need for complementary therapies. The Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program is a structured mind-body intervention designed to address these challenges. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of YOCAS in managing CRF, sleep quality, cognitive function, and musculoskeletal symptoms in cancer survivors using randomised controlled trials (RCTs). A comprehensive search was conducted across the Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases for RCTs published between January 2000 and September 2024. Eligible studies included adult cancer survivors who had completed primary treatment and compared YOCAS interventions to control groups. The primary outcomes were cancer-related fatigue, sleep quality, cognitive function, and musculoskeletal symptoms. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, and the findings were synthesised. Six RCTs, involving 1,717 participants, met the inclusion criteria. The YOCAS program demonstrated significant improvements in the reduction of cancer-related fatigue and sleep quality. Cognitive function and memory were improved, particularly among breast cancer survivors, with reduced musculoskeletal pain reported in participants undergoing hormonal therapy. Despite variations in study design, the risk of bias was generally low. ​​​​​​​The YOCAS program effectively reduced cancer-related fatigue, improved sleep quality, and addressed the cognitive and musculoskeletal symptoms in cancer survivors. Given its low risk and broad applicability, YOCAS shows promise as a complementary therapy for cancer survivorship care. Future research should focus on the long-term sustainability of these benefits and explore the impact of the program across diverse cancer populations.