Changes in body and interoceptive awareness after Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation or Qigong in adults with spinal cord injury

Brain imaging studies have demonstrated that adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit deficits in body and interoceptive awareness. However, there is limited research on the degree and impact of these deficits. Few clinical trials have examined interventions to improve body and interoceptive awareness in this population. We compared scores on the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2) and the Revised Body Awareness Rating Questionnaire (BARQ-R) between adults with SCI and uninjured adults. We also assessed changes in body and interoceptive awareness in adults with SCI following one of two body awareness interventions, i.e., Qigong and Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation (CMR). Adults with SCI reported worse interoceptive awareness than uninjured adults on the MAIA-2 dimensions "Not-distracting" [Median(IQR), SCI vs healthy=1.33 (1.17) vs 2.30 (1.5); <i>p</i><.0001] and "Trust" [3.50 (1) vs 3.70 (1.3); <i>p</i>=.02]. Conversely, they scored better on "Noticing" [3.50 (1.38) vs 3.00 (1.50); <i>p=</i>.035], "Attention Regulation" [3.50 (1) vs 2.70 (1.3); <i>p</i><.0001], "Self-regulation" (3.75 (1) vs 3.00 (1.5); <i>p</i><.0001], and "Body Listening" [3.75 (1) vs 2.30 (1.70); <i>p</i><.0001]. Adults with SCI displayed worse body awareness, indicated by higher BARQ-R scores [18 (6.50) vs 15 (7); <i>p</i><.0001]. Post-intervention results revealed improvements on the MAIA-2 dimension "Not-Worrying" [pre: 3.00 (0.80) vs post: 3.40 (1.40); <i>p</i>=.03] and the BARQ-R [pre: 18 (7) vs post: 16 (7); <i>p=</i>0.0004]. Given the demonstrated deficit in body and interoceptive awareness and the potential for improvement with interventions, our results encourage further exploration on how improving body and interoceptive awareness can impact quality of daily life.