THE EFFECT OF BODY AWARENESS THERAPY ON BALANCE AND COORDINATION IN STROKE

Abstract

Stroke represents a significant global health burden with approximately 13.7 million annual cases, often resulting in neurological damage that compromises sensorimotor control, balance, and cognition. To address these deficits, this Randomized Controlled Trial evaluated the impact of Body Awareness Therapy (BAT), a mind-body physiotherapeutic intervention, on stroke survivors. Twenty-six participants were recruited via convenience sampling and randomly allocated into experimental (n=13) and control (n=13) groups using the sealed envelope method; both groups underwent conventional physical therapy for two weeks (five days per week), with the experimental group receiving additional BAT. Outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and coordination tests. While both groups demonstrated improvements from baseline, between-group analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in balance or coordination; however, the experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement in cognitive function compared to the control. Consequently, while the addition of BAT to conventional rehabilitation did not significantly enhance balance or coordination over the two-week period, the findings suggest it demonstrates a positive and significant effect on cognitive function in stroke patients.