Feasibility Study: The Effect of Therapeutic Yoga on Quality of Life in Children Hospitalized With Cancer

Purpose: To describe the effect of therapeutic yoga on child and parental reports of quality of life in children hospitalized with oncological diagnoses. Methods: Six children participated in 5 yoga sessions over 2 months. The PedsQL 4.0 was administered to each child and participating parent/caregivers at baseline and after completion of the yoga intervention. The Wilcoxon nonparametric rank test measured individual differences over time. Results: Statistically significant differences (P < .05) were found in child perception of gross motor function. Conclusion: These feasibility study data suggest that therapeutic yoga positively affected child perception of gross motor function measured on the PedsQL 4.0. Further studies are needed, including a randomized control trial and with a larger number of participants, to clarify and confirm the effect of therapeutic yoga. (Pediatr Phys Ther 2011; 23: 375-379)