Changes in Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters After a 5-Day Mindfulness Retreat: A Pre-Post Pilot Study in Experienced Meditators
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 13
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Biomechanical Variables
研究概览
简要总结
This research project aims to investigate whether participation in a 5-day meditation retreat is associated with changes in biomechanical gait parameters in experienced meditators. Walking is a complex motor function that integrates cognitive, sensory, and neuromuscular processes, and alterations in gait have been linked to neurological, psychological, and emotional functioning. Recent advances in wearable sensor technology enable precise assessment of gait characteristics, including stance and swing phases, foot-rocker timing, acceleration, and joint kinematics, providing objective measures of motor performance. Mindfulness has consistently demonstrated beneficial effects on psychological well-being, emotion regulation, and body awareness, and growing evidence suggests that emotional states influence motor behavior, including gait. Furthermore, mindfulness-based interventions have shown promising effects on motor symptoms in some clinical populations, although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Meditation retreats, which combine intensive mindfulness practice with a distraction-free environment, have been associated with sustained improvements in stress, anxiety, quality of life, and neuroplasticity-related processes. However, despite increasing interest in mind-body interventions, no published studies have specifically examined the effects of meditation retreats on gait biomechanics. This pilot study therefore seeks to address this knowledge gap by evaluating changes in gait and foot-strike biomechanics before and after a 5-day meditation retreat using wearable gait analysis technology. In addition, the study will explore the relationship between changes in biomechanical gait variables and participants' levels of mindfulness and quality of life. The findings are expected to provide preliminary evidence on the potential motor effects of intensive meditation practice and contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between mindfulness, body awareness, and locomotor function in healthy individuals.
详细描述
Walking requires multiple and complex afferent and efferent networks-both cognitive and sensory-so that body weight can be borne alternately by both lower limbs, thereby achieving adequate overall bodily coordination . Some authors consider gait to be the "sixth vital sign", because gait disturbances in the absence of trauma may be prodromal features of neurodegeneration and contribute to disability in organic, psychological, and psychiatric disorders such as depression, thereby reducing quality of life In the last two decades, the development of sensors and wireless communication-based computing systems has complemented the information provided by classic observation-based parameters. This technology yields more detailed information in gait analysis by allowing measurement of stance and swing times, the duration of the three foot rockers (heel, ankle, and forefoot), maximal acceleration, and pronation-supination and flexion-extension angles.
Mindfulness is "a process of self-regulation of attention so that it is maintained on immediate experience, with an attitude of curiosity, openness, and acceptance toward that experience". It increases body awareness and helps reduce stress and anxiety by enabling individuals to become aware of thoughts and emotions without judgment through processes that affect emotion regulation . Mindfulness-based programs such as MBSR and MBCT have shown beneficial effects both in healthy individuals and in people with mental or physical illnesses associated with chronic pain, anxiety, or depression.
Emotional states affect the somatovisceral and motor systems, while the experience of bodily states influences emotional information processing . This occurs both in disease states and in healthy individuals . Recently, Wakabayashi et al. demonstrated that gait alone can convey emotional information, as observers were able to identify emotions such as anger, sadness, and fear from body movement in isolation. These gait-related patterns were captured through motion-capture sensor measurements obtained from 17 body regions. This finding suggests that different bodily experiences may shape gait and, in turn, influence the emotional information it communicates.
Reviews and meta-analyses indicate that mindfulness has shown beneficial effects not only on psychological symptoms but also on motor alterations in patients with Parkinson's disease , although a recent paper by Trinh et al. points out that the evidence is conflicting and not always significant . In other conditions, such as stroke rehabilitation, the evidence is weaker because it is difficult to disentangle the specific effect of mindfulness from that of other maneuvers affecting motor recovery, as also occurs in other organic diseases . This is partly because many medical conditions are associated with autonomic dysregulation, which may have a widespread negative impact on multiple body systems and lead to health deterioration, as noted by Churchill.
In healthy individuals, mindfulness improves overall health and quality of life, and some authors advocate its incorporation into health programs for older adults in order to promote more successful aging.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Na
- 干预模型
- Single Group
- 主要目的
- Screening
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Taking part in the meditation retreat
- •Being able to read and understand the Spanish language
- •Not have been diagnosed with any serious medical or psychiatric conditions
- •Not have been diagnosed with any condition that impairs or alters foot strike or gait
排除标准
- •Age: <18 years old
结局指标
主要结局
Biomechanical Variables
时间窗: Baseline
Inertial sensors: These sensors consist of accelerometers and gyroscopes that enable the estimation of foot movements. Electronic baropodometer: This is a device comprising a platform with digital sensors designed to assess the points of maximum pressure on the foot whilst stationary, as well as to analyse the feet whilst in motion, obtaining data on pressure, rotation and displacement.
15-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15)
时间窗: Baseline
The FFMQ is a test comprising 39 items, which measures the general tendency to practise mindfulness based on five skills: Observation, Description, Mindful Action, Non-judgement and Non-reactivity. This scale is valid and reliable, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.84. Total scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of mindfulness.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
时间窗: Baseline
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7): The GAD-7 is a tool that demonstrates adequate indicators of validity and reliability. It is an excellent, reliable, easy and quick-to-use tool for detecting symptoms of generalised anxiety; its internal consistency yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88. Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptom severity. Scores of 0-4 indicate minimal anxiety, 5-9 mild anxiety, 10-14 moderate anxiety, and 15-21 severe anxiety.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
时间窗: Baseline
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9): The PHQ-9 is a nine-item self-report measure that evaluates the presence of depressive symptoms based on the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive episode. This questionnaire demonstrates good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.80. Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity. Scores of 0-4 indicate minimal depression, 5-9 mild depression, 10-14 moderate depression, 15-19 moderately severe depression, and 20-27 severe depression.
12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)
时间窗: Baseline
The SF-12 is a generic measure of health-related quality of life that evaluates physical, mental, and social health. It is a shortened version of the SF-36 and assesses the same eight health domains: Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role Emotional, and Mental Health. Domain scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, where 0 represents the worst possible health status and 100 the best possible health status. Higher scores indicate better perceived health-related quality of life. The SF-12 also provides Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores.
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
时间窗: Baseline
The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a single-item self-report measure used to assess the intensity of emotional states. Each emotion is rated on a 0-10 scale, with higher scores indicating greater emotional intensity. In this study, the VAS was used to assess the intensity of happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, anxiety, relaxation/calm, and vigor/energy. A score of 0 indicates the complete absence of the emotion, whereas a score of 10 indicates the maximum intensity of that emotion.
Biomechanical Variables
时间窗: Up to 5 days
Inertial sensors: These sensors consist of accelerometers and gyroscopes that enable the estimation of foot movements. Electronic baropodometer: This is a device comprising a platform with digital sensors designed to assess the points of maximum pressure on the foot whilst stationary, as well as to analyse the feet whilst in motion, obtaining data on pressure, rotation and displacement.
15-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15)
时间窗: Up to 5 days
The FFMQ is a test comprising 39 items, which measures the general tendency to practise mindfulness based on five skills: Observation, Description, Mindful Action, Non-judgement and Non-reactivity. This scale is valid and reliable, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.84. Total scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of mindfulness.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
时间窗: Up to 5 days
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7): The GAD-7 is a tool that demonstrates adequate indicators of validity and reliability. It is an excellent, reliable, easy and quick-to-use tool for detecting symptoms of generalised anxiety; its internal consistency yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88. Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptom severity. Scores of 0-4 indicate minimal anxiety, 5-9 mild anxiety, 10-14 moderate anxiety, and 15-21 severe anxiety.
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
时间窗: Up to 5 days
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9): The PHQ-9 is a nine-item self-report measure that evaluates the presence of depressive symptoms based on the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive episode. This questionnaire demonstrates good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.80. Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity. Scores of 0-4 indicate minimal depression, 5-9 mild depression, 10-14 moderate depression, 15-19 moderately severe depression, and 20-27 severe depression.
12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)
时间窗: Up to 5 days
The SF-12 is a generic measure of health-related quality of life that evaluates physical, mental, and social health. It is a shortened version of the SF-36 and assesses the same eight health domains: Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role Emotional, and Mental Health. Domain scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, where 0 represents the worst possible health status and 100 the best possible health status. Higher scores indicate better perceived health-related quality of life. The SF-12 also provides Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores.
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
时间窗: Up to 5 days
The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a single-item self-report measure used to assess the intensity of emotional states. Each emotion is rated on a 0-10 scale, with higher scores indicating greater emotional intensity. In this study, the VAS was used to assess the intensity of happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, anxiety, relaxation/calm, and vigor/energy. A score of 0 indicates the complete absence of the emotion, whereas a score of 10 indicates the maximum intensity of that emotion.
次要结局
- Nationality(Baseline)
- Current city of residence(Baseline)
- Gender(Baseline)
- Age(Baseline)
- Cohabitation(Baseline)
- Education(Baseline)
- Employment situation(Baseline)
- Meditative practice(Baseline)
- Body weight(Baseline)
- Height(Baseline)
研究者
Javier Garcia Campayo
Principal Investigator
Hospital Miguel Servet