Therapeutic effects of yoga and mindfulness on cancer-related pain: a literature-based review
Tetiana Savchak, S B Ivanchuk, Anhelina Kaminskaya, Aleksandra Kurek, Hubert Feretycki, Aleksandra Głowacka, Patryk Górecki, Maciej Kozicki, Aladdin Salama, Dominika Domińczak, Shafea Abdulla
Quality in Sport April 3, 2026 DOI: 10.12775/qs.2026.53.70068 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Yoga Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Hatha yoga Psychological intervention Randomized controlled trial Mindfulness-based stress reduction Chronic pain Hypnosis Psychotherapist Physical therapy Clinical psychology Therapeutic effect Systematic review Alternative medicine Clinical trial Medline |
| Key findings | Yoga and mindfulness-based interventions reduce pain interference and improve pain threshold in cancer patients, and down-regulate pro-inflammatory markers and salivary cortisol. |
Abstract
Purpose of research: This literature-based review was created to evaluate the effectiveness of yoga and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in managing chronic and acute cancer-related pain. Research
Materials and Methods: A systematic review of literature from 2012 - 2026 across databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted. Full-text versions of Meta-Analyses, Systematic Reviews, and Randomized Controlled Trials were included. Basic
Results: The analysis demonstrates significant reductions in pain interference (how much pain interferes in daily life) and improvements in pain threshold across different groups of patients. Mind-body practices effectively down-regulate pro-inflammatory markers and salivary cortisol. Efficacy was validated in pediatric care, peripheral neuropathy, and through various cognitive-behavioral approaches.
Conclusions: Yoga and mindfulness serve as cost-effective, low-risk non-pharmacological aid that improves the quality of life (QoL) in oncology patients. Keywords: Oncology, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Hatha Yoga, Chronic Pain, Palliative Care.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |