Body Awareness and Aerobic Exercise: Telomere Impact

NCT06732934 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: BBAT
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Telomeres shorten with each replication cycle throughout cellular lifespan. While it is known that telomere length is age-dependent, numerous factors influencing telomere length have been identified. One such factor is the perception of stress created by the individual and their environment. It has been suggested that stress and depression can alter telomere structure by increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study is to preserve healthy telomere structure by controlling stress levels. In this context, Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) exercises, known to be more effective than standard exercise approaches in reducing stress and depression, will be used as an alternative. There are no studies in the literature examining the effects of BBAT on epigenetic mechanisms. This study aims to contribute to the existing literature by comparing BBAT with aerobic exercise, which is recognized as one of the most effective exercise approaches for preserving telomere structure. Furthermore, the hypothesis that telomere length changes, observed over a long period in previous studies, can be achieved in a shorter time through BBAT-an approach known to be more effective in stress management based on mind-body principles-represents one of the unique aspects of this research. The study aims to provide valuable insights into identifying the most effective exercise approaches for influencing telomere length changes

Conditions

Exercise

Keywords

aerobic exercise; basic body awareness therapy; telomere lenght

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

• Telomere Length Measurement

  Blood samples will be collected by Dr. Faculty Member Halil ÖZBAŞ at the SDU Research Application Hospital's medical genetics laboratory and will be properly stored. DNA will be isolated from a 2cc peripheral venous blood sample collected in an EDTA tube using a DNA isolation kit and an appropriate protocol. After measuring the DNA's purity and concentration, suitable DNA samples will be used for telomere copy number measurement with a Real-Time PCR method using a telomere copy number measurement kit. Telomere length will be assessed twice, once before and once after the 12-week exercise program.

  3 months

• Perceived Stress Scale

  The scale consists of 14 items in total. It is designed to measure the degree to which certain situations in an individual's life are perceived as stressful. Each item on the scale is rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from "Never (0)" to "Very Often (4)." Seven of the items that contain positive expressions are reverse scored. The scores of the PSS-14 range from 0 to 56. A high score indicates a high level of stress perception. The PSS consists of two subscales: inadequate self-efficacy and stress/discomfort perception. A score between 11-26 indicates a low level of stress, between 27-41 indicates a moderate level of stress, and between 42-56 indicates a high level of stress

  3 months

• Beck Depression Inventory

  Developed by Beck et al., the Turkish validity and reliability of the scale has been established. It consists of 21 questions, and the scores for each response, ranging from 0 to 3, are summed to determine the overall score. The highest possible score is 63, and a higher score indicates a higher severity of depression.

  3 months

• Beck Anxiety Inventory

  Developed by Beck et al. and adapted into Turkish, this scale consists of 21 questions. Each question is rated on a scale from 0 to 3, and the total score is used to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms. The total score ranges from 0 to 63

  3 months

• Body Awareness Questionnaire

  The body awareness questionnare is a valid and reliable scale in Turkish used to measure body awareness. It evaluates body awareness in four distinct subdimensions: the ability to identify changes in the body or changes in response to specific stimuli, the ability to predict responses to certain stimuli, awareness of sleep and wake cycles and sleep duration, and the ability to sense illness before it manifests. The questionnaire consists of 18 questions, which aim to measure changes across these four subdimensions. For each question, individuals are asked to select the most appropriate answer from 8 options, ranging from 0 (this statement is not true for me) to 7 (this statement is completely true for me). The result is expressed as the total score from the items, with higher scores indicating better body awareness.

  3 months

• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

  The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) will be used to assess patients' sleep quality, a valid and reliable method in Turkish. The PSQI consists of 24 questions directed to the patient to define sleep quality as good or poor. Of these questions, 19 are self-assessment items answered by the patient, while the remaining 5 are answered by the patient's spouse or roommate. The PSQI score is calculated based on the total score, excluding the 5 questions answered by others. The 19 self-assessment questions evaluate various aspects of sleep quality, including sleep duration, sleep onset delay, and the frequency and severity of specific sleep-related issues.

  3 months

• Ruminasyon Scale

  The Ruminasyon Scale, developed by Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow, consists of 10 items. It is a 4-point Likert scale (never, sometimes, often, always). The scale has two subdimensions: deep thinking and obsessive thinking. The maximum score that can be obtained from the scale is 40, and the minimum score is 10. A higher score indicates more rumination. The Turkish adaptation and validity-reliability study of the Ruminasyon Scale was conducted by Erdur-Baker and Bugay, and it was examined for high school and university students

  3 months

• SF-12 Quality of Life Scale

  The Turkish validated and reliable version of the Short Form-12 (SF-12) Health Survey will be used to assess individuals' quality of life. The SF-12 is a shorter version of the original 36-item Health Survey, containing 12 selected items. The scale evaluates eight subdimensions: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, social functioning, pain, mental health, role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality, and general health perception. These subdimensions are combined into two main domains: physical health and mental health. Patients rate their experiences over the past month on a scale of 1 to 3 for some items and 1 to 5 for others. Scores for the eight subdimensions and two main domains are calculated separately and expressed as percentages, with a score of 100% indicating optimal quality of life. Responses will be scored using an open-access online calculator available at orthotoolkit.com/sf-12.

  3 months

Study Arms (3)

Basic Body Awareness Therapy Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will engage in 12 weeks of Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) three times a week. The exercises will include body scanning, stretching, strength accumulation, sound resonance, and midline orientation, supervised by an experienced physiotherapist. Each session lasts 40 minutes, with 5 minutes of meditation and a group feedback session after every exercise. The group will consist of a maximum of 10 participants.

Other: exercise (Basic Body Awareness Therapy

Aerobic Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will undergo aerobic exercise on a treadmill, following ACSM guidelines. Exercise duration will start at 30 minutes in the first week and gradually increase to 45 minutes by the 12th week. The exercise intensity will be monitored using the target heart rate method (64-77% HRmax) and will be supervised by a physician. Heart rate monitoring will be done during the exercises, and participants will be asked to maintain their usual diet.

Other: exercise (aerobic exercise)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

No intervention or recommendations will be provided to the control group.

Interventions

exercise (Basic Body Awareness Therapy OTHER

Body Awareness Therapy is a patient-centered physiotherapy approach that also includes mental health, focusing on movement awareness training. This therapy primarily consists of exercises aimed at improving postural disorders, balance, and muscle tension. It aims to help individuals experience and accept bodily responses while increasing coping strategies. The therapy includes body scanning, integration of sound and movement, stretching exercises, and exercises focusing on body alignment and midline orientation. Floor exercises: body scanning, stretching, strength accumulation, sound resonance. Seated exercises: body alignment, trunk rotation, head and neck movements. Standing exercises: support surface perception, midline elevation and lowering, bilateral arm movements, rotation, one-legged balance, voice exercises, and group movements.

Basic Body Awareness Therapy Group

exercise (aerobic exercise) OTHER

The continuous exercise protocol specified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) will be applied under supervision on a treadmill. The exercise duration will follow ACSM recommendations, starting at 30 minutes in the first week and increasing to 45 minutes by the 12th week. Exercise intensity will be assessed using the target heart rate method (220 - age). The intensity of aerobic exercise will be set at a moderate level (64-77% HRmax), according to ACSM guidelines. During exercise, heart rate will be monitored through a heart rate monitoring device. A 5-minute warm-up and a 5-minute cool-down exercise will be performed before and after each session, with an intensity of 50-60% of the maximum heart rate.

Aerobic Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Be between the ages of 18-30,
• Not be obese (BMI \< 25 kg/m²),
• Not have a history of regular exercise or long-term exercise participation,
• Not have a history of smoking or alcohol use,
• Not have received hormone replacement therapy,
• Not be using antioxidant or multivitamin supplements,
• Not have a diagnosed acute or chronic inflammatory disease or any rheumatic condition,
• Be willing to participate in the study voluntarily

You may not qualify if:

• Having been diagnosed with a severe psychiatric disorder or using psychiatric medication,
• Having communication barriers,
• Having a history of smoking or alcohol use,
• Having a history of regular exercise,
• Having variable general nutrition habits,
• Having any other diseases related to the circulatory system, orthopedic, neurological, cardiac, and respiratory functions, such as diabetes, cholesterol, or heart failure,
• Being enrolled in another exercise program during the 12-week period within the assigned exercise group.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Suleyman Demirel University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Süleyman Demirel University

Isparta, 32260, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (13)

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Mert Usta, RA

  https://w3.sdu.edu.tr/personel/06713

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Asistant

Model Details: In this study, a parallel group design is used, where participants are randomly assigned to one of three independent groups: Basic Body Awareness Therapy Group Aerobic Exercise Group Control Group Each group receives a different intervention (body awareness therapy, aerobic exercise, or no intervention for the control group) and is observed over the study period. The study aims to compare the effects of body awareness therapy and aerobic exercise on telomere length in young individuals. The control group serves to assess the natural variation in telomere length without any intervention. This design allows for a clear comparison of the outcomes between the different groups, ensuring that any observed effects can be attributed to the specific intervention each group received. In summary, each group follows its own intervention pathway independently, and the results from each group are analyzed to understand the impact on telomere length.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 21, 2024
• First Posted: December 13, 2024
• Study Start: January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2023
• Study Completion: November 1, 2024
• Last Updated: December 13, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)