Changes in Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Experienced Meditators

NCT07738653 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PI23/574
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 13
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Mindfulness; Gait Biomechanics

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (12)

• Biomechanical Variables

  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.

  Baseline

• 15-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15)

  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.

  Baseline

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

  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.

  Baseline

• Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

  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.

  Baseline

• 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)

  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.

  Baseline

• Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

  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.

  Baseline

• Biomechanical Variables

  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.

  Up to 5 days

• 15-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15)

  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.

  Up to 5 days

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

  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.

  Up to 5 days

• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

  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.

  Up to 5 days

• 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)

  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.

  Up to 5 days

• Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

  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.

  Up to 5 days

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Gender

  Baseline

• Age

  Baseline

• Nationality

  Baseline

• Current city of residence

  Baseline

• Cohabitation

  Baseline

Study Arms (1)

Meditators in Retreat

EXPERIMENTAL

Meditators participating in a 5-day retreat.

Behavioral: Meditation

Interventions

Meditation BEHAVIORAL

This is a 5-day meditation retreat during which participants take part in various practices.

Meditators in Retreat

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• Age: \<18 years old

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital Miguel Servet: lead
• Fundacion Podoactiva: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Department of Psychiatry. Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009

Zaragoza, Spain

Location

Related Publications (28)

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MeSH Terms

Interventions

Meditation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Spiritual Therapies; Relaxation Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SCREENING
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2026
• First Posted: July 31, 2026
• Study Start: July 18, 2023
• Primary Completion: July 23, 2023
• Study Completion: July 23, 2023
• Last Updated: July 31, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

ES (1)