tai chi for relieving aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia in patients with stage i-iii breast cancer, the taichi4joint trial

Conditions: Anatomic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IIIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IIIC Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IIIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IIIC Breast Cancer AJCC v8

Summary: this trial studies new methods using tai chi for the relief of joint pain (arthralgia) caused by an aromatase inhibitor in patients with stage i-iii breast cancer. tai chi is a mind-body therapy that integrates moderate physical activity, deep breathing and meditation. tai chi may help to reduce aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain, and offer a promising approach to managing symptoms in cancer patients.

primary objective: i. to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week tai chi intervention for relieving aromatase inhibitor (ai)-induced arthralgia in women with breast cancer (bca). outline: patients attend tai chi exercise classes over 1 hour twice weekly (biw) and wear a fitbit device for up to 12 weeks. patients are encouraged to complete self-practice over 30 minutes and record practice times daily in a diary log form. patients also join a facebook private taichi4joint group where they receive instructional videos matching the progress of weekly classes for at-home practices and peer support in tai chi engagement.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * be able to speak and read english * been diagnosed with stage i-iii breast cancer (bc) * had completed all active treatments * had been receiving an ai (anastrozole, letrozole, or exemestane) for at least 3 months * had joint (knee, hand or hip) pain or stiffness that started or worsened after the initiation of ai * report worst pain in the past week \>= 4 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale * be willing to adhere to all study procedures exclusion criteria: * has been diagnosed with another form of cancer in the past 5 years * uncontrolled cardiac, pulmonary, or infectious disease * body mass index (bmi) \> 40 kg/m\^2 * currently attending any mind-body therapy classes (e.g. yoga) * joint pain due to inflammatory arthritic condition (such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or gout, which will be assessed during eligibility screening with patient self-reported data and will be screened through electronic medical record \[emr\] data) * had surgery or joint infection in the past 6 months * currently taking corticosteroids or opioids, have discontinued or plan to discontinue ai in the next 6 months