Maria Nilsson

About Maria Nilsson

Maria is a PhD student at the Department of Health Sciences at Örebro University since November 2022 and conducts research within the project Digital Yoga Intervention in Cancer Rehabilitation (DigiYoga CaRe). Maria is a licensed physiotherapist, specialist in primary health care and also works clinically at Levnadsvanemottagningen Område Nära Vård Väster.

Research

In the DigiYoga CaRe study, a randomized controlled trial investigated whether internet-based yoga is an effective form of rehabilitation for breast cancer-operated women. Women who had surgery for breast cancer no more than 60 days ago and who have not started chemotherapy are welcome to be included in the study. The intervention group receives digital yoga treatment twice a week for 12 weeks and the control group receives the usual care.

The study examines the effect on cancer-related fatigue, activity level, stress and health-related quality of life. Within a month of completing the yoga intervention, participants are interviewed about their experience of the digital yoga.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in women and often causes extreme fatigue that affects well-being and cancer patients often tend to become less physically active after diagnosis. Yoga is a form of rehabilitation that can reduce fatigue, stress and improve quality of life, but it is unknown whether digitally distributed yoga has similar effects in breast cancer patients as there are no randomized controlled trials. It is important to find rehabilitation forms for breast cancer patients that reduce fatigue, increase the possibility of being physically active and improve accessibility and contribute to equal care.

Collaborations and assignments

The DigiYoga CaRe study is a multicenter study with collaboration with Gävleborg, Region Västmanland and Region Örebro County.