Body Awareness Therapy in Geriatric Individuals: Role of Biopsychosocial Dynamics

NCT07187076 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025/429
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 73
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Population aging is one of the most significant global health trends of the 21st century. As life expectancy increases, so do the physical and psychological challenges faced by older adults. Aging is associated with a progressive decline in muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia), reduced mobility, impaired balance, altered gait mechanics, and an increased risk of falls. In addition to these physical changes, older individuals frequently experience psychosocial issues such as anxiety, depression, social isolation, and diminished quality of life. Conventional physiotherapy programs for elderly individuals typically focus on balance, strength, and mobility training. While these are undeniably effective, they may not fully address the mind-body connection, proprioceptive awareness, and emotional regulation, which are equally important for maintaining overall well-being and functional independence. Recently, body-awareness-based exercise methods have gained attention for their potential to bridge this gap by fostering conscious movement, breath awareness, and improved self-regulation. Body Awareness Therapy (BAT), also referred to in the literature as "body awareness-based physiotherapy," is a therapeutic approach that combines gentle physical movements, breathing exercises, postural control, and relaxation techniques. It has been used effectively in various populations, including individuals with chronic pain, mental health disorders, neurological conditions, and musculoskeletal impairments. However, limited evidence exists on its potential applications in geriatric populations, particularly concerning its influence on both physical functioning and psychological well-being. This study was designed to investigate the effects of a structured Body Awareness-Based Exercise Program (BAEP) on older adults, focusing on its potential to improve physical function (balance, gait, mobility, strength) and psychological outcomes (anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction).

Conditions

Geriatric

Keywords

body awareness; geriatric

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ)

  valuates the participant's level of body awareness and interoceptive attention, which is the core target of your intervention.

  8 weeks

• Change in Functional Exercise Capacity

  The primary outcome will be the change in the distance walked during the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), which is a validated and widely used measure of functional exercise capacity in older adults. Participants will be asked to walk at their own pace in a standardized indoor corridor for 6 minutes, and the total distance (in meters) will be recorded. The test will be conducted following the American Thoracic Society guidelines.

  Baseline and 8 weeks after the start of the intervention

Study Arms (1)

body awareness

EXPERIMENTAL

body awareness exercises

Behavioral: body awareness

Interventions

body awareness BEHAVIORAL

Body Awareness Therapy (BAT) is a somatic-based, movement-centered therapeutic approach that aims to improve individuals' physical, emotional, and psychological well-being by enhancing conscious awareness of bodily sensations, posture, breathing, movement, and internal states. Originating from Scandinavian physiotherapy models - particularly the work of Berit Heir Bunkan, Roxendal, and Dropsy - BAT integrates principles from: Proprioceptive neuromuscular retraining Mindfulness-based movement Sensorimotor integration Psychomotor physiotherapy BAT is not simply a set of physical exercises, but a neuropsychophysical method designed to promote: Postural control and alignment Somatic grounding and bodily coherence Emotional regulation through movement Enhanced interoception (awareness of internal bodily states)

body awareness

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 65 years and older, living independently in the community.
• Capable of walking independently or with minimal assistance.

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosed with severe cognitive impairment (MMSE \< 24) or dementia.
• Having unstable cardiovascular, pulmonary, or neurological conditions in the past 6 months.
• Inability or unwillingness to participate in scheduled sessions or comply with the study protocol.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Recep Tayyip Erdogan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Guneysu Physiotherapy School

Rize, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: phd

Model Details: This study follows a parallel-group randomized controlled interventional model, designed to assess the impact of a Body Awareness-Based Exercise Program (BAEP) on both physical function and psychological well-being in older adults. It adopts a single-blind approach in which the outcome assessor remains unaware of group allocations to reduce detection bias.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2025
• First Posted: September 22, 2025
• Study Start: July 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 10, 2025
• Study Completion: September 14, 2025
• Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)