Mouse Yoga Slows Tumor Growth

The researchers adapted a well-established protocol for gentle stretching in mice, which involves lifting the animals gently by the tail, while allowing their front paws to grasp a bar. Mice can quickly become accustomed to holding this position for 10 minutes at a time, without evidence of discomfort.

The team applied this gentle stretching technique to mice for 10 minutes every day, over four weeks. Prior to starting their stretching regimen, the animals received injections of primary breast cancer cells into mammary fat pads that are surrounded by subcutaneous and deeper tissues that are pulled as a result of the stretching motion. Tumor growth in the stretched animals was then compared with that in control animals that didn’t undergo daily stretching exercises.

The results showed that tumor growth from weeks 2 to 4 was significantly slower in the stretch group mice, and final tumor volume was also 52% smaller in the stretch group, compared with the no-stretch animals.