This research project aims to investigate whether participation in a 5-day meditation retreat is associated with changes in biomechanical gait parameters in experienced meditators. Walking is a complex motor function that integrates cognitive, sensory, and neuromuscular processes, and alterations in gait have been linked to neurological, psychological, and emotional functioning. Recent advances in wearable sensor technology enable precise assessment of gait characteristics, including stance and swing phases, foot-rocker timing, acceleration, and joint kinematics, providing objective measures of motor performance. Mindfulness has consistently demonstrated beneficial effects on psychological well-being, emotion regulation, and body awareness, and growing evidence suggests that emotional states influence motor behavior, including gait. Furthermore, mindfulness-based interventions have shown promising effects on motor symptoms in some clinical populations, although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Meditation retreats, which combine intensive mindfulness practice with a distraction-free environment, have been associated with sustained improvements in stress, anxiety, quality of life, and neuroplasticity-related processes. However, despite increasing interest in mind-body interventions, no published studies have specifically examined the effects of meditation retreats on gait biomechanics. This pilot study therefore seeks to address this knowledge gap by evaluating changes in gait and foot-strike biomechanics before and after a 5-day meditation retreat using wearable gait analysis technology. In addition, the study will explore the relationship between changes in biomechanical gait variables and participants' levels of mindfulness and quality of life. The findings are expected to provide preliminary evidence on the potential motor effects of intensive meditation practice and contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between mindfulness, body awareness, and locomotor function in healthy individuals.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Meditators participating in a 5-day retreat.
Zaragoza, Spain
Changes in Perception and Cognition During a Meditation Retreat
The Influence of Mindfulness Meditation Retreat on Attention to Internal Experience
The Effects of a Meditation Retreat on Healthy Volunteers and Cancer Patients: an fMRI Study
Quest to Analyze One Thousand Humans Meditating
Who Fares Best With Mindfulness Meditation
Psychological and Neurobiological Impact of a Retreat Based on Mindfulness and Compassion for Stress Reduction.
Differential Effect of Four Mindfulness Exercises
Integrating Magnetic Imaging With Rich Phenotypes