Randomized controlled trial on eurythmy therapy versus slow-paced physical exercises for the treatment of fatigue in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Background: Cancer-related fatigue is among the most taxing symptoms of breast cancer patients, but there is currently no established treatment standard. This study assessed the effect of eurythmy therapy (ERYT), a tailored mindful movement therapy, compared to slow-paced physical exercises (CoordiFit) on fatigue in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Methods: We used a randomized controlled, open-label, multi-center, two-arm design. Ten certified oncology centers across Switzerland participated in the trial. Women with metastatic breast cancer who agreed to participate in the study were randomly allocated to one of the two study arms in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention sessions in both groups followed the same schedule in terms of frequency and duration over a period of 20 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using standard clinical assessment scales at baseline, weeks 8, 14, and 20, as well as at 6- and 12-months follow-up. The primary endpoint was the change in cancer-related fatigue (baseline to end of intervention), whereas secondary endpoints included quality of life, pain, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, distress, and arm mobility. Data was analyzed using two-way mixed ANOVA.

Results: The study was terminated before its completion due to insufficient enrollment. Prior to its closure, a total of 19 patients (median age: 59.5, range 51-82) agreed to participate in the study, of whom 10 completed the full intervention (n = 5 per group). Although the small sample size limits the possibility of statistical inference, tentative analyses pointed to significant improvements in fatigue in response to both experimental and control interventions (F(1,8)=14.176, p = 0.006), with no difference between groups. Among secondary endpoints we found a main group effect in quality of life, which was significantly higher in the ERYT group (F(1,8)=7.179, p=.028), as well as an interaction effect in pain interference, the latter significantly improving in the ERYT group but not the CoordiFit group (F(1,8)=7.977, p=.022).

Conclusion: While the results show a promising decrease in cancer-related fatigue in response to ERYT, this held true also for the movement-based control intervention, suggesting ERYT to be valuable, but not superior to other movement-based approaches for cancer-related fatigue. However, the small sample size limits the conclusions that can be drawn.

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: #NCT04024267.