Clinical Perspectives of sensorial gymnastics : a review of eight exploratory studies

Auteures :

Hélène BOURHIS-BOIS, Isabelle BERTRAND, Anne LIEUTAUD

Introduction

Fascia are tissues that are belong to the living organism, which, from a phenomenological point of view, can become an object of knowledge. From this perspective, fascia appear to be animated by a very slow motion, described as the self-regulating force of living organisms (Bois, 2009). This movement contributes to mind-body self-regulation processes and body awareness. Sensorial Gymanstics (SG), developed by Prof. D. Bois, proposes to connect to this intelligence of the body in movement (Courraud and Bertrand 2024) to develop greater awareness of the body in motion in order to optimize the fascial system and restore mind- body unity.

Methods

The benefits of this practice have been explored using qualitative methods in a variety of situations, and we report here on the potential clinical benefits. Eight exploratory studies are concerned by this review: two on musculoskeletal disorders at work (Didot-Rigaux 2013; Fédou 2011), one on aspecific back pain (Sercu 2011), two on the accompaniment of autistic children (Rosier 2006) and of patients suffering from obesity (Bertrand et al. 2017), one on the maternal-fetal relationship (De Nardi 2012), one on sports stretching (Serre 2013) and one among fasciatherapists (Isabelle Eschalier 2020). All were conducted using the same qualitative methodology, so can be reanalyzed following the epistemology of secondary analysis (Duchesne 2017).

Results

For company employees, SG helps release tension and focus attention on postures, significantly reducing pain. It develops autonomy and self-observation, and promotes personal health management. For aspecific back pain, it reduces the pain and improves mind-body comfort. With autistic children, it can modify the relationship to the self, to others and to events, including behavior itself. With obese people, the benefits reported concern to the relationship with the body, therapeutic compliance, self-esteem, adaptation to stress and eating behavior. For pregnant women, a SG session offers the sensation of experiencing a unity in movement with their foetus, and of forging a tangible, interactive relational bond. For athletes, SG-based stretching improves recovery speed and the management of preparation stress. For fasciatherapists, it fosters and maintains a link with their inner self, making their practice more effective and bringing physical, psychological and existential benefits. By soliciting a conscious relationship with the inner movement that animates the fascia, SG offers original perspectives for understanding the relationships between fascia, consciousness and movement, and for treating disorders of the fascial system.

Conclusion

Exploratory results tend to show that this slow, global and conscious way of moving can be practiced by a wide variety of public and in very diverse situations, with benefits for physical and psychological health, injury prevention and the management of different stress situations (work, illness, sport) and the enrichment of relational capacities (in care, the foetal relationship or the relationship with oneself).