Therapeutically efficient components of Basic Body Awareness Therapy as perceived by experienced therapists - A qualitative study

Effects of basic body awareness therapy on pain, balance, muscle strength and functionality in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised preliminary trial

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of basic body awareness therapy (BBAT) on pain, balance, muscle strength, and functionality in knee OA.

METHODS

Forty patients (mean age: 55.20 ± 6.40 years) with knee OA were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Both groups participated in a home-based exercise programme. The home-based exercise programme was performed daily for 6 weeks. In addition to the home-based programme, patients in the experimental group participated in BBAT 3 days a week for 6 weeks. The visual analogue scale, fall risk assessment, single-leg stability test, knee extension muscle strength, five times sit-to-stand test, joint range of motion assessment, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, 6-minute walk test, and stair climb test were performed at baseline and after 6 weeks.

RESULTS

All outcomes in the experimental group significantly improved after 6 weeks (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of the experimental group in muscle strength (p = 0.018, η2= 0.191), five times sit-to-stand test (p < 0.001, η2= 0.510), and the stair climbing test (p = 0.012, η2=0.212).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that BBAT, in addition to a home-based exercise programme, can improve muscle strength and functionality in patients with knee OA.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04165187.

Investigation of Body Awareness and Affecting Factors in Patients with Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

Major weight loss after bariatric surgery (BS) makes the body sensitive to the environment. The factors associated with body awareness are unknown in patients with BS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the body awareness and the affecting factors in patients with BS.

METHODS

Our study included 81 patients who had BS at least 6 months ago and 40 people of the same age and gender who had not. Participants' body awareness was evaluated with the Body Awareness Questionnaire, body compositions with bioelectric impedance device, joint position sensation (JPS) with photography method, physical activity level with International Physical Activity Questionnaire, quality of life with the Short Form-36, depression status with the Beck Depression Inventory, and cognition with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale. Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests were used for the comparison of the groups, and Spearman correlation analysis was used for in-group correlation analysis.

RESULTS

Body awareness was found to be higher in patients with BS compared to the control group (p = 0.002). Body awareness had a positive correlation with cognition (r = 0.277, p = 0.012), quality of life sub-scales (r = 0.245-0.374, p < 0.05), the amount of change in total body weight (r = 0.241, p = 0.027), and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.269, p = 0.032); negative correlation with depression (r =  - 0.409, p = 0.016) and deviation in the JPS (r =  - 0.223, p = 0.046).

CONCLUSION

Body awareness of patients with BS was found to be high after surgery. Body awareness in patients with BS is associated with the amount of weight loss and BMI, depression, cognition, JPS, and health-related quality of life.

A pilot study of the feasibility of a Swedish multimodal group intervention for severe migraine—The migraine patient school

Objectives:

To evaluate a multidisciplinary group intervention, the migraine patient school (MPS), for patients with severe, mostly chronic migraine.

Method:

A 13-week group intervention program including seven sessions of patient education, practical body awareness and relaxation exercises, and home assignments was performed in small groups with 5–11 participants. Four groups were consecutively included from spring 2014 to fall 2015. Headache diaries and standardized and study-specific questionnaires were used for evaluation at baseline before MPS (pre-interventional phase), and at follow-up.

Results:

Twenty-four of 30 included patients completed the study, i.e. attended ≥ four sessions. Most participants found it rewarding to participate in the MPS and easy to take part in, understand and complete home assignments. Validated standardized questionnaires delivered before, and after (follow-up) MPS showed that the impact on life (HIT-6) and avoidance behavior (PIPS-A) were significantly improved whereas quality of life (MSQL), anxiety and depression (HAD) and perceived stress (PSS-14) did not show a statistically significant change.

Conclusion:

The Migraine patient school with a multimodal educational and behavioral group intervention program was feasible to perform and seem to benefit patients with severe (high-frequency or chronic) migraine.

Experiences from group basic body awareness therapy by patients suffering from fibromyalgia: A qualitative study

The aim of this study was to obtain a deeper understanding of how patients with fibromyalgia experienced movement awareness through a basic body awareness therapy group treatment program. A total of 19 participants with fibromyalgia diagnosis were interviewed individually and in groups. Data collection was done from three sources: (1) interviews from the Basic Body Awareness Rating Scale (BARS) part 2 at baseline, at end of treatment, as well as at 12 and 24 weeks follow up; (2) focus group discussions that took place at the end of each session, and at the end of treatment; and (3) an in-depth focus group. Giorgi's method was followed for data construction and analysis. The researchers conducted 57 individual interviews, 10 focus groups, and one in-depth focus group. The findings revealed the following categories: "creating a new relation to self"; "change the pattern of body awareness"; "being in a group"; and "experiencing physical capacity", showing influences among them. Body awareness seems to have an impact in the therapeutic process in patients suffering from fibromyalgia.

Anxiety management: Participants' experiences of a physiotherapeutic group treatment in Swedish psychiatric outpatient care

Anxiety disorders are among the most persistent mental health syndromes. There is extensive research showing effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy interventions targeting anxiety, while knowledge is still sparse for other treatment options. The aim of this study was to explore how participants with anxiety disorders experience a physiotherapeutic group treatment in psychiatric outpatient care, and their perceived ability to manage anxiety within two months after participating in the treatment. Semi-structured interviews with participants were conducted to explore experiences of the treatment. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, which resulted in one main theme: Reconnecting to the body in the supportive atmosphere of a group. Six categories reflect the main theme: (1) sharing with others supported by the group, (2) grounding oneself in the body, (3) getting to know the body and learning to manage its reactions, (4) learning to tolerate bodily sensations of anxiety, (5) gaining a more compassionate attitude toward oneself, and (6) challenging old patterns to become more active in life. The participants reported that their ability to reconnect to their bodies increased so that anxious sensations became more endurable and acceptable after treatment. The supportive group context was described as valuable, enabling the participants to feel safe enough to start exploring new ways to manage anxiety. In conclusion, this study suggests that a physiotherapeutic group treatment can be a useful add-on treatment to the standard treatment models of anxiety disorders, including psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, since it targets the embodied, nonverbal domain of anxiety.