WATSU (Water-Shiatsu) increases body awareness and improves pain and mood: A randomised controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: WATSU (Water-Shiatsu) is a body-oriented therapy in warm-water pool with passive movements, massage and breathing techniques. The present study investigated the short-term effect of a single session of WATSU on body awareness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a randomized-controlled study 60 volunteers (18-65 years) were assigned to a 20-min intervention of WATSU or to a 20-min lecture on WATSU. Immediately before and after the intervention they had to answer questionnaires. Primary endpoint of the investigation was the change of the total score of the non-verbal Awareness Body Chart (ABC). Secondary endpoints were the changes of the scores of the 14 single body parts of the ABC, of the Visual Analogue Pain Scale, of a German self-perception questionnaire (KEKS) and changes in mood scored with a German questionnaire on mood (Bf-SR). To compare groups, Mann-Whitney U tests were used. RESULTS: The WATSU group had a significantly higher increase in the ABC total score in comparison to the lecture group (WATSU: 0.3 (IQR 0 - 0.8), lecture: 0.1 (IQR -0.2 - 0.2), p = 0.014). In the KEKS no group differences were seen. In WATSU a significantly stronger improvement of pain (Visual Analogue Pain Scale: WATSU: -15 (IQR -29 to -8), lecture: -4 (IQR -9 - 2), p < 0.001) and of mood (Bf-SR: WATSU: -6 (IQR -14 to -2), lecture: -1 (IQR -5 - 1), p = 0.003) could be observed. CONCLUSION: This study showed that WATSU immediately increases body awareness and improves pain and mood.

"ABC"-The Awareness-Body-Chart: A new tool assessing body awareness.

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of body awareness for health and well-being there is still a lack of valid assessment tools to scan proper body awareness. To respond to the limitations of questionnaires (reading/interpretation problems) the Awareness-Body-Chart (ABC) was designed to assess body awareness by colouring 51 regions according to their awareness. The objective of this study was to investigate the psychometric characteristics of the ABC. METHODS: In a questionnaire-study, 106 students in Graz (79 females, 27 males, age median 21 (IQR 20-23) years) filled in the ABC, furthermore a German body awareness questionnaire "KEKS", and the Beck Depression Inventory II. Factor structure, internal consistency, and retest reliability of the ABC were investigated. Correlations of the ABC with the KEKS and the Beck Depression Inventory II and comparisons of subgroups were conducted. RESULTS: Through factor analyses, 14 factors with clear assignments to body parts could be categorized: cranium, face, cervical/lumbar region, chest/abdomen, back, shoulder, upper arm, lower arm/elbow, hand, genital area, thigh/hip, knee, lower leg, and foot. The 14 body parts and the total score showed acceptable to high Cronbach's alphas (α = .64 - .97). The test-retest reliability showed values between ρ = .71 and ρ = .96. The correlation of the ABC and KEKS (r = .66, p < .001) confirmed validity. Further indications of validity could be seen in comparisons of subgroups and in correlations with the Beck Depression Inventory II. CONCLUSION: The ABC proved good psychometric properties with acceptable to high internal consistency, acceptable to high retest reliability and high construct validity. It is an easy-to-use tool for clinical settings and research. The ABC opens new insights into body awareness-patterns of various subgroups.

Acceptance of the Use of Pedometers in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder.

Before patients with bipolar disorder (BD) can begin to perform balanced physical activity, they have to overcome many difficulties. The aim of this study was to examine the acceptance of pedometers as a self-assessment tool in people with BD. Patients who participated in an intervention study with body-oriented groups and psychoeducation groups at the Medical University of Graz/ Department of Psychiatry were invited to use pedometers on a daily basis and keep pedometer diaries over a period of 24 weeks. Most of the patients were satisfied with the pedometers and found them helpful for their health. The difficulties in the study were to recruit patients for this exercise trial, their lack of adherence to the programme and a high dropout rate. Out of the 130 invited patients, 41 came to the baseline investigation, 27 of them took part in the group interventions and 14 used pedometers and handed in the pedometer diaries. For clinical practice, specific motivational interventions are recommended to stimulate individuals with BD to engage in regular physical exercise.