A common recommendation for patients with an array of ailments is to rest. But as the results of a recent clinical trial point out, certain synchronized movements may be better for healing than remaining sedentary.
According to a recent clinical trial out of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, prostate cancer patients who attended semiweekly, 75-minute, teacher-led yoga sessions during their radiation therapy treatment reported improved overall well-being, including feeling less fatigued and improved sexual function, as opposed to the control group that didn’t practice yoga.
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The concept of incorporating alternative medicine like yoga into patients' treatment plans isn't entirely novel. Medical centers across the nation are coming around to the idea, including adding on specialized centers to support alternative medicine practices.
Last year, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, for example, announced it's adding an Integrative Health Program that will offer alternative medicine options, including acupuncture, aromatherapy and massage, to complement patients' standard medical care.
Read more about the clinical trial here.