NCT06235671

Effects of Chiropractic on Chronic Cancer-related Fatigue

The Effects of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care in Adult Cancer Survivors With Chronic Cancer-related Fatigue: a Feasibility Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Life University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The primary aims of the proposed trial are centered around examining the feasibility of conducting a prospective, chiropractic intervention study on a population of cancer survivors living in and around Atlanta, Georgia. This includes evaluating various implementation outcomes including recruitment, adherence, tolerability, retention, acceptability, and data fidelity. The results of this trial will inform the design of a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) that has an increased focus on the efficacy/effectiveness of chiropractic care on chronic cancer-related fatigue (CCRF) and other cancer-related sequelae in cancer survivors.

Detailed description

Cancer remission is often marked by the cessation of curative-intent treatments (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy), however, troublesome signs and symptoms (e.g., fatigue, depression, cognitive impairment, dysautonomia) related to the cancer and its treatments commonly persist for prolonged periods (i.e., months to years). Of these, chronic cancer-related fatigue (CCRF) is one of the most frequently reported and debilitating symptoms. CCRF may be characterized as tiredness or exhaustion persisting for 3 or more months following the completion of the primary curative-intent cancer therapies which is independent on one's quantity or quality of rest and causes impairments in daily functioning and quality of life. Notably, although the mechanisms underlying CCRF are still unclear, there is some evidence that it may be related to autonomic dysregulation. Irrespective of the cause(s), lack of identification of and treatment for CCRF and other chronic cancer-related sequelae is commonplace. Further, empirical data supporting the efficacy of interventions to remediate these issues are relatively sparse and urgently needed as the global population of cancer survivors continues to increase. Of note, although there is no universally accepted definition of 'cancer survivor', the investigators define it here as someone who has completed their primary curative-intent therapies and is cancer-free (i.e., has no evidence of active disease). This definition is in line with that of the European Organisation of Research \& Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Survivorship Task Force and the EORTC Quality of Life Group. Interestingly, a recent study suggested that a single chiropractic adjustment may mitigate lower extremity muscular fatigue during isometric exercise in young, healthy males. However, to the investigators' knowledge, the impact of chiropractic care on CCRF and other health-related challenges that burden cancer survivors has yet to be investigated.

Conditions

• Cancer
• Fatigue

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Chiropractic care	6 weeks of chiropractic care

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-03-01
• Primary completion: 2024-09-01
• Completion: 2024-12-31
• First posted: 2024-02-01
• Last updated: 2024-02-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States