Tai Chi during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer fatigue

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

In this randomized study, 116 participants with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy will be assigned to a Tai Chi program plus usual care or usual care alone. The Tai Chi group will participate in a supervised 12-week Yang-style 16-form program, starting around radiotherapy preparation and adapting to treatment phase and fitness. Outcomes include change in cancer-related fatigue (BFI global score) from baseline to shortly after radiotherapy, with additional fatigue and functional exercise capacity assessments at week 12. The trial aims to determine if Tai Chi can help manage fatigue and improve tolerance to treatment.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed primary malignant tumor of the head and neck and planned to receive radiotherapy.
* Age 18 to 80 years.
* No regular exercise during the previous 3 months, defined as less than 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise and less than 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity exercise.
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1.
* Able to complete the baseline assessment before the start of radiotherapy.
* Provides written informed consent and is willing to comply with the supervised exercise program.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Absolute contraindications to exercise, such as uncontrolled heart failure, severe arrhythmia, acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or severe aortic stenosis.
* Severe musculoskeletal disease, neurological disease, or other physical disease that prevents completion of the prescribed exercise movements.
* Uncontrolled brain metastases or severe bone metastases associated with a high risk of pathological fracture.
* Severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorder, such as severe depression or schizophrenia, that prevents compliance with study instructions.
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
* Other conditions that may substantially confound fatigue assessment, including severe anemia (hemoglobin \<9.0 g/dL); hypothyroidism with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) \>5 mIU/L accompanied by clinical symptoms; hyperthyroidism with TSH \<0.3 mIU/L without stable treatment; Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score ≥15 with symptoms remaining unstable despite routine sleep management; or pain with a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥4 that remains uncontrolled despite optimized analgesic management or requires escalation of treatment.
* Participation in another structured exercise rehabilitation program or interventional study that may substantially affect the study outcomes.

Where it's running

• West China Hospital, Sichuan University
  Chengdu, Sichuan, China Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Xingchen Peng
• Email: pxx2014@163.com
• Phone: 18980606753

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.