The Effects of Chiropractic on Cancer-related Fatigue

NCT ID: NCT07300319

Last Updated: 2026-02-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: SUSPENDED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-02-01
• Study Completion Date: 2028-02-01

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled study is to investigate the impact of chiropractic care on CCRF (Chronic Cancer Related Fatigue) and other health-related challenges that burden cancer survivors.

Detailed Description

To our knowledge, the impact of chiropractic care on CCRF and other health-related challenges that burden cancer survivors has yet to be investigated. Because this is a pilot trial, the primary outcomes center around feasibility and include 1) randomization, 2) compliance, 3) tolerability, 4) adherence, and 5) retention in each arm. Secondary outcomes include changes in patient-reported outcomes (PROs), electrocardiography (ECG) derived heart rate variability (HRV), impedance cardiography (ICG) derived pre-ejection period (PEP), and number of completed sit-to-stands.

Conditions

Cancer; Fatigue

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Delayed Group

After the 6-week lab assessments, the participants in the delayed group will be offered 6 weeks of chiropractic care.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Delayed Chiropractic Care

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants in the delayed start group will be assigned to chiropractic care for 6 weeks. Participants will have their upper cervical spine (C1/C2) assessed for the presence of vertebral subluxations per the chiropractor's normal and customary procedures and adjusted if necessary.

Immediate Group

After the baseline assessment, the participants in the intervention group will receive 12 weeks of chiropractic care.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Immediate Chiropractic Care

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants in the immediate start group will be assigned to chiropractic care for 12 weeks. Participants will have their upper cervical spine (C1/C2) assessed for the presence of vertebral subluxations per the chiropractor's normal and customary procedures and adjusted if necessary.

Interventions

Immediate Chiropractic Care

Participants in the immediate start group will be assigned to chiropractic care for 12 weeks. Participants will have their upper cervical spine (C1/C2) assessed for the presence of vertebral subluxations per the chiropractor's normal and customary procedures and adjusted if necessary.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Delayed Chiropractic Care

Participants in the delayed start group will be assigned to chiropractic care for 6 weeks. Participants will have their upper cervical spine (C1/C2) assessed for the presence of vertebral subluxations per the chiropractor's normal and customary procedures and adjusted if necessary.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18-65 years of age.
• Self-report that they have been informed by their primary health care provider that they are cancer-free (this is sometimes referred to as 'complete remission' or 'cured').
• Minimum of 3 months since the completion of their primary curative-intent cancer therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or immunotherapy (long-term hormone therapy permitted)
• Scores in the moderate-to-severe range (i.e., at or above the 60th percentile) on the FACIT-Fatigue scale.
• Fatigue onset was at some point during their illness/treatment & negatively impacts their quality of life & daily functioning.

Exclusion Criteria

• Chiropractic care within the past 2 weeks
• Taking short-acting benzodiazepines which include midazolam/Versed & triazolam/Halcion.
• Taking GLP-1 medications
• Taking other types of prescription medications (including hormone therapy) and hasn't been on a stable dose for a minimum of 6 weeks with plans to change medications or doses during the study.
• Disorders that cause fainting during rapid postural changes (e.g., POTS, orthostatic hypotension).
• Not able to make a fist or grip objects with one or both hands
• Deaf in one or both ears (hearing aids are ok)
• Heart conditions, including pacemakers, which impact heart function
• Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, or medically diagnosed cervical spine instability.
• Current litigation related to a physical, health-related injury.
• Pregnant

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Life University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Tyson Perez, DC, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Life University

Locations

Center for Chiropractic Research

Marietta, Georgia, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

I-0037

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id