BODY AWARENESS LEVEL OF PEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR BODY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

Purpose: The physical and psychological loads that physiotherapists working in the field of pediatric rehabilitation are exposed to during therapy sessions can lead to limitations in body structure and functions that exceed the stress threshold. Examining the relationship of pediatric physiotherapists' body awareness with body structures and functions can reveal the effects of loads they are exposed to on their body-mind connection. This study aims to examine the relationship of body awareness of physiotherapists working in pediatric rehabilitation with their body structure and functions. Method: The study included 100 pediatric physiotherapists. The participants' level of body awareness was assessed by the Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ). The exposed forces, mental functions and dynamic balance were evaluated using the Physiotherapist Occupational Injury Questionnaire (POIQ), the Warwick Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), and the Functional Reach Test (FRT), respectively. Trunk, upper extremity, chest cage flexibility were assessed and Body Mass Index (BMI) were also calculated. Results: The participants had a mean age of 28.25±3.715 (min-max:23-41). A significant relationship was found between the levels of body awareness and mental well-being (r=0.217; p=0.003). The BAQ, BAQ-1 and BAQ-2 and WEMWBS scores were correlated (p0.05). Conclusion: The levels of body awareness among pediatric physiotherapists, who work in a profession relying on both mental and physical strength, are directly associated with their mental well-being.