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WATSU and Body Awareness

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Body Image
Self-Assessment
Perception, Self
Interventions
Procedure: WATSU application
Other: Lecture
Registration Number
NCT05769543
Lead Sponsor
Johannes Kepler University of Linz
Brief Summary

Body awareness (BA) is an essential factor for health and well-being. In 2021, the IOBA (Impact on Body Awareness) study was conducted at the Institute of Physical Medicine \& Rehabilitation at Kepler University Hospital. Thereby, the impact of massage and of gymnastics on BA in healthy individuals was surveyed. The protocol provides a solid basis for further research projects on BA. In the present study, the direct effect of a WATSU® (Shiatsu in Water) application on BA as well as on the state of health of healthy persons will be determined and BA will be further investigated.

In a randomized controlled study with 60 healthy adults in two groups (WATSU and control group), the use of the Awareness Body Chart (ABC) questionnaire and further German questionnaires (Short questionnaire on self-perception of the body, self-rating mood scale - revised) concerning body awareness and well-being should analyse the following hypothesis: There is a difference in the change of BA between the WATSU group and the control group. Before interventions demographic data and further questionnaires concerning health conditions of the participants (Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire, Short Form Health Survey, Brief Symptom Inventory, Like/Dislike Body Chart and additional questions) are administered. Correlations between BA and the results of these tests will be investigated too. All these analyses can provide innovative information about BA and be indicative in the use of physiotherapeutic measures.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Healthy volunteers
  • Signing of informed consent by participants and head of the study
  • Understanding of German language in order to be able to follow a lecture and complete questionnaires
Exclusion Criteria
  • Current sick leave
  • Pregnancy
  • Acute physical or psychological complaints on the day of study participation
  • Chronic illnesses / disabilities which contraindicate participation or make it difficult to use the therapy pool
  • Current illnesses or injuries

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
WATSU applicationWATSU application-
ControlLecture-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Awareness Body Chart QuestionnaireImmediately after intervention

Body charts to fill in with colours according to intensity of body awareness. In sum, 51 body regions to colour with 5 different colour pencils (orange = "I can perceive with much detail", yellow = "I can perceive distinctly", green = "I can perceive", blue = "I can perceive indistinctly", black = "I cannot perceive"). To quantify the information, every region of the body will be coded as an extra item and the data of the colours will be transcribed: orange (= 5), yellow (= 4), green (= 3), blue (= 2), black (= 1). Higher values mean higher intensity of body awareness.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Short questionnaire on self-perception of the bodyImmediately after intervention

Verbal questionnaire concerning body awareness. 20 items (5 = "I can perceive with much detail", 4 = "I can perceive distinctly", 3 = "I can perceive", 2 = "I can perceive indistinctly", 1 = "I cannot perceive"). Higher values mean higher intensity of body awareness.

Self-rating mood scale - revisedImmediately after intervention

Verbal questionnaire concerning mood status. 24 pairs of oppositional adjectives concerning mood: One of them or \<neither nor\> should be ticked, depending on how it best corresponds to the current situation. The negative pole = 2. The positive pole = 0. \<neither nor\> = 1. Higher sum scores indicate worse subjective mood, lower values better mood.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kepler University Hospital

🇦🇹

Linz, Austria

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