The effects of basic body awareness therapy on balance in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomised crossover trial

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the effects of basic body awareness therapy (BBAT) and conventional treatments (CT) on balance in patients with chronic neck pain.

Methods

Thirty-five patients with neck pain participated in this randomised two-period crossover trial. Patients were divided into A (BBAT/CT) (n = 17) and B (CT/BBAT) (n = 18) groups. Group A received BBAT twice a week for 6 weeks, whereas Group B received CT within the same parameters. After a 5-week washout period, the treatments received by the groups were changed. The primary outcome was balance, assessed via the sensory organisation test (SOT) using the computerised dynamic posturography device. The secondary outcome was pain assessed by the visual analogue scale. Assessments were performed before and after primary and secondary treatments.

Results

In Group A, the SOT conditions 4, 5, 6; composites score; and visual and vestibular system scores increased after BBAT; however, only condition five scores and vestibular system scores increased (p < .05) in Group B, which started with CT. Within the groups, both treatments were effective for easing pain (p < .05).

Conclusions

Although patients who started the therapy with BBAT showed more improvement in balance, no differences were observed between the therapies.

Keywords:

• Neck pain
• postural balance
• awareness

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Mustafa Agah Tekindal for his contribution to the statistical analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data associated with the paper are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.