Body awareness in movement and language: Concordance and disparity

Abstract

Background and purpose: Body Awareness Scale–Health (BAS-H) is a physiotherapy scoring instrument that assesses the quality and harmony in posture and simple movements. In the present work, we have studied the concordance between body awareness scores and described body experience to further refine the concept of body awareness. Method: Sixteen general practitioners were assessed according to BAS-H and interviewed using a semi-structured method concerning their own body experience in relation to three themes. The interviews for the five participants who were found to have the most well-developed body awareness were compared, with the five that had the least developed body awareness. Results: The participants in the group with well-developed body awareness described a more positive attitude towards the body, and they gave clearer descriptions about their experiences of emotions and conditions such as hunger and tiredness. However, there were important exceptions. Body awareness has two dimensions–an outward/expressive dimension that is expressed in posture and movement, and an inward/introspective dimension. Summary hypotheses: The study was summarized in several hypotheses concerning the relationship between expressive and introspective body awareness.

• Body awareness assessment–interviews on body experience