Neiyanggong practice linked to lower fatigue and better sleep in chemotherapy patients

Fatigue was measured using the Piper Fatigue Scale-Revised (PFS-R), while sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline and after each cycle. The Neiyanggong group showed a progressive decline in fatigue scores, with significantly lower fatigue after the third cycle compared to controls (P<0.05, effect size η²=0.807 for the interaction). Sleep improvements were particularly notable for sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and daytime dysfunction (all P<0.001). No adverse events were reported, and adherence to the Neiyanggong program was high. However, the study was single-center, and long-term effects beyond the three-cycle period remain unknown.

The large effect size (η²=0.807) for the fatigue reduction is substantially larger than typical psychosocial interventions for cancer fatigue, suggesting Neiyanggong may target multiple pathways—possibly including breath regulation effects on the nervous system and gentle movement maintaining muscle function during chemotherapy. Notably, improvements in daytime dysfunction and sleep efficiency point to better restorative sleep architecture, not just more hours in bed. The staged progressive nature (intensifying over three cycles as tolerance built) differs from standard exercise interventions and may have been key to safety: zero adverse events despite active practice during active chemotherapy, unusual for movement-based trials in this population. Baseline comparability and blinding status were not explicitly stated, which could affect certainty; also, the PSQI improvement could partly reflect reduced fatigue rather than independent sleep gains. Adherence remained high (>80% implied), suggesting the practice felt feasible to patients actively ill from treatment.