Acupressure cuts fatigue after breast cancer treatment
Published 11 Jul 2016
Long-term fatigue that follows treatment for breast cancer can be dramatically reduced by simple pressure-point exercises able to be performed at home, new research reveals.
Scientists found that one session of acupressure a day reduced fatigue by up to a third.
The ancient technique, thought to have originated in China, stimulates energy flows by applying pressure to certain points of the body.
Acupressure is easy to learn and patients can do it themselves
Professor Suzannah Zick
Scientists at the University of Michigan recruited 424 breast cancer survivors into randomly separated into groups, which used either acupressure or typical sleep-management techniques to combat fatigue.
The study, published in the journal JAMA Oncology, describes how at the end of the trial, those who had used the acupressure treatment reported significant and sustained improvements in fatigue.
“Fatigue is an under-appreciated symptom across a lot of chronic diseases, especially cancer,” said Suzanna Zick, associate research professor of family medicine at University of Michigan.
"It has a significant impact on quality of life."
“Acupressure is easy to learn and patients can do it themselves.”
The study participants were able to accurately locate the correct acupressure points and apply the right amount of pressure after 15 minutes of training.
“Given the brief training required to lean acupressure, this intervention cold be a low-cost option for treating fatigue,” said Professor Zick.
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Is there any information on the points to use please?
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