WATSU and Body Awareness

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Official Title
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Impact of WATSU on Body Awareness

Conditions
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Perception, Self, Body Image, Self-Assessment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: WATSU application
* Other: Lecture


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: WATSU application<br> | Procedure: WATSU application<br>* 20-minute application of WATSU<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Control<br> | Other: Lecture<br>* 20-minute lecture on WATSU technique<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Awareness Body Chart Questionnaire | 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. | Before intervention | 
| Awareness Body Chart Questionnaire | 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. | Immediately after intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Short questionnaire on self-perception of the body | 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. | Before intervention | 
| Short questionnaire on self-perception of the body | 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. | Immediately after intervention | 
| Self-rating mood scale - revised | 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. | Before intervention | 
| Self-rating mood scale - revised | 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. | Immediately after intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Body Awareness, WATSU