A Comparison of the Effects of Self-Acupressure and Aerobic Exercises on Sleep Disorders of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

Breast cancer is the most widespread cancer type, with more than half of the afflicted women suffering from sleep disorders and fatigue, as common complications of the treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acupressure and aerobic exercises on such women's sleep disorders. This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical acupuncture 2022-04, Vol.34 (2), p.131-136
Main Authors: Nourizadeh, Roghaiyeh, Khanipour, Shadi, Zamiri, Reza Eghdam, Namin, Mahsa Salimi, Khalili, Assef, Hakimi, Sevil
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Original
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Breast cancer is the most widespread cancer type, with more than half of the afflicted women suffering from sleep disorders and fatigue, as common complications of the treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acupressure and aerobic exercises on such women's sleep disorders. This study was carried out on 99 women affected by breast cancer. Participants were divided to acupressure, exercise, and control groups. The acupressure group received the treatment 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The exercise group participated in aerobic exercises 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The control group received routine care in the oncology clinic. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburg sleep quality index. The overall score of sleep quality scale in the acupressure and exercise groups was significantly less than that in the control group at weeks 4 (Medical Doctor: 2.7 with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67 to 1.12) and 8 (MD: 0.07 with 95% CI: -1.21 to 1.03) of intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the acupressure and exercise groups. The results of this study indicated that both acupressure and exercise methods can be effective and safe methods in reducing sleep disorders of breast cancer survivors and neither is superior to the other.
ISSN:1933-6586
1933-6594
DOI:10.1089/acu.2020.1515