The Effectiveness of Basic Body Awareness Therapy in Individuals With Pes Planus

November 14, 2025 updated by: Fatma Betül YARDIMCI, Mardin Artuklu University

The Effectiveness of Basic Body Awareness Therapy Combined With Short Foot Exercises in Individuals With Pes Planus

This study investigates whether adding Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) to Short Foot Exercises (SFE) improves pes planus, balance, and body awareness in adults with flexible pes planus. Fifty participants aged 18-45 will be randomly assigned to either a BBAT + SFE group or an SFE-only control group. The interventions will last eight weeks with supervised sessions twice weekly and additional home exercises. Outcomes will be measured before, after, and two months post-intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Pes planus is a common orthopedic condition characterized by the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, which negatively affects lower extremity biomechanics, postural stability, and balance. Currently, interventions targeting muscle activation-such as short foot exercises (SFE)-are widely used in the management of pes planus. However, it is believed that holistic approaches incorporating sensory input and body awareness may further enhance functional outcomes in these individuals. Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) is a physiotherapeutic method designed to improve movement quality, balance, and posture. In this study, BBAT will be applied for the first time in individuals with pes planus. This project aims to investigate the effects of BBAT, when combined with SFE, on medial longitudinal arch height, foot function, gait, balance, proprioception, plantar sensation, and body awareness in individuals with pes planus. The study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial. Fifty participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned into two groups of 25: a BBAT group (SFE + BBAT) and a control group (SFE only). Interventions will be administered twice a week for a duration of eight weeks. Assessments will be conducted at three time points: before the intervention, immediately after the eight-week intervention period, and two months post-intervention (follow-up). This study aims to demonstrate that BBAT can provide significant improvements in both somatic and sensory parameters in individuals with pes planus, offering a holistic complement to traditional exercise-based approaches. In doing so, it is expected to contribute an innovative perspective to clinical physiotherapy practices and address a significant gap in the existing literature.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18-45 years
  • Willing to participate in the study
  • Flexible pes planus (Navicular Drop ≥10 mm and positive Jack's Toe Raise Test)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pain in lower extremity joints
  • Obesity (BMI >30)
  • Pregnancy
  • Systemic, neuromuscular, or neurological disorders
  • Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (unable to perform heel-rise test)
  • History of lower limb surgery
  • Previous treatment for pes planus or use of foot orthoses
  • Lower extremity injury in past 6 months
  • Orthopedic conditions other than pes planus and mild hallux valgus (Manchester Scale C or D excluded)
  • Participation in regular exercise program in past 6 months
  • Prior personal experience with TBFT and/or short foot exercises

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: BBAT Group
Participants will receive Short Foot Exercises (SFE) plus Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT).
Behavioral: Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT)
Participants will perform Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) combined with SFE for 8 weeks. BBAT sessions are 45 minutes, twice weekly in small groups under a certified physiotherapist. Exercises target postural control, motor coordination, body awareness, balance, and functional movement, progressing from supine to sitting, standing, and walking positions. After each BBAT session, participants perform SFE following the same progression as the Control Group.
Behavioral: Short Foot Exercises (SFE)
Participants will perform Short Foot Exercises (SFE) for 8 weeks. Sessions are twice weekly under physiotherapist supervision in small groups (3-8 participants) and 5 days/week at home. Exercises progress from sitting (weeks 1-2), standing (weeks 3-4), single-leg (weeks 5-6), to functional activities (weeks 7-8). Each session lasts ~20 minutes, 3 sets of 10 reps with 1-minute rest. Participants receive instruction on proper technique and adherence is monitored online
Active Comparator: Control Group
Participants will receive only Short Foot Exercises (SFE).
Behavioral: Short Foot Exercises (SFE)
Participants will perform Short Foot Exercises (SFE) for 8 weeks. Sessions are twice weekly under physiotherapist supervision in small groups (3-8 participants) and 5 days/week at home. Exercises progress from sitting (weeks 1-2), standing (weeks 3-4), single-leg (weeks 5-6), to functional activities (weeks 7-8). Each session lasts ~20 minutes, 3 sets of 10 reps with 1-minute rest. Participants receive instruction on proper technique and adherence is monitored online

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Navicular Drop Test
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months after intervention)
Assessment of medial longitudinal arch height to determine presence and severity of pes planus. Test performed in both sitting (non-weight-bearing) and standing (weight-bearing) positions. Difference ≥10 mm indicates pes planus.
Baseline (pre-intervention), post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months after intervention)
Dynamic Balance
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Y Balance Test measuring reach distance in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. Results normalized to leg length.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Proprioception
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Active and passive joint position sense of the ankle measured with digital goniometer. Eyes closed; angular error from target angle recorded.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Light Touch Sensation
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament Test at seven foot reference points. Threshold of sensation recorded.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Static Balance
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Flamingo Balance Test. Participant stands on one leg on a narrow beam for 1 minute; balance errors recorded.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Gait Performance
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
10-Meter Walk Test performed at comfortable walking speed. Time recorded and averaged over three trials.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Body Awareness
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Body Awareness Questionnaire assessing participant's perception of bodily sensations and processes. Score range 18-126; higher scores indicate better awareness.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Foot Function Index - Pain Subscale
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
The Pain subscale of the Foot Function Index (FFI) assesses foot pain during daily activities. It includes 9 items rated on a 0-10 Likert-type scale. Higher scores indicate worse pain.self-rate 23 items using a visual analog scale.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Foot Function Index - Disability Subscale
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
The Disability subscale of the Foot Function Index (FFI) evaluates difficulty in performing functional activities. It contains 9 items scored on a 0-10 Likert-type scale. Higher scores indicate greater disability.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Foot Function Index - Activity Limitation Subscale
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
The Activity Limitation subscale of the Foot Function Index (FFI) measures limitations in essential daily activities. It consists of 5 items rated on a 0-10 Likert-type scale. Higher scores indicate greater activity limitation.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
Foot Function Index - Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)
The Total Score of the Foot Function Index (FFI) is calculated by combining all pain, disability, and activity limitation items (23 items in total). Each item is rated on a 0-10 Likert-type scale. The total score reflects the overall foot-related functional status, with higher scores indicating worse function.
Baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), follow-up (2 months)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Mardin Artuklu University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Fatma Betül Yardımcı, MSc, Mardin Artuklu University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 13, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 13, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 14, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 17, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 14, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • FBYDRTEZ

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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