Acute neuromuscular and kinematic responses to a single Feldenkrais awareness through movement session.
- 1Lauflabor, Locomotion Laboratory, Institute of Sports Science and Center for Cognitive Science, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
- 2Feldenkrais Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
- 3Control and Cyber-Physical Systems Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany.
Abstract
Introduction
The Feldenkrais Method aims to improve functional movement through exploratory coordination rather than performance-driven execution. While clinical studies have reported benefits in mobility and balance, the underlying neuromechanical mechanisms remain insufficiently characterized.Methods
This study examined acute changes in voluntary range of motion (ROM), muscle activation, movement smoothness, and ventilatory-movement efficiency following a single Awareness Through Movement session in healthy adults (intervention: n = 44; control: n = 12) using three-dimensional motion capture, surface electromyography, and capnography.Results
The intervention group showed significant within-group increases in upper-body ROM, selective increases in muscle activation in trunk and neck muscles, a significant increase in forearm angle, and a reduction in VMEI following the session. None of these changes were observed in the control group. Time × Group analyses confirmed intervention-specific effects for shoulder ROM, forearm angle, and right sternocleidomastoid activation.Discussion
These findings suggest that short-term Feldenkrais-based exploratory practice produces coordinated changes in movement organization and neuromuscular activation that are not explained by repeated movement practice alone, with ROM changes consistent with altered intersegmental coordination rather than passive mechanical effects.
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BibTeX
@article{alokla2026acute,
title = {{Acute neuromuscular and kinematic responses to a single Feldenkrais awareness through movement session.}},
author = {Eisa Alokla and Roger Russell and André Seyfarth and Maziar Ahmad Sharbafi},
journal = {Frontiers in human neuroscience},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnhum.2026.1924684},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909128},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Acute neuromuscular and kinematic responses to a single Feldenkrais awareness through movement session.
AU - Eisa Alokla
AU - Roger Russell
AU - André Seyfarth
AU - Maziar Ahmad Sharbafi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in human neuroscience
DO - 10.3389/fnhum.2026.1924684
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909128
AB - Introduction The Feldenkrais Method aims to improve functional movement through exploratory coordination rather than performance-driven execution. While clinical studies have reported benefits in mobility and balance, the underlying neuromechanical mechanisms remain insufficiently characterized.Methods This study examined acute changes in voluntary range of motion (ROM), muscle activation, movement smoothness, and ventilatory-movement efficiency following a single Awareness Through Movement session in healthy adults (intervention: n = 44; control: n = 12) using three-dimensional motion capture, surface electromyography, and capnography.Results The intervention group showed significant within-group increases in upper-body ROM, selective increases in muscle activation in trunk and neck muscles, a significant increase in forearm angle, and a reduction in VMEI following the session. None of these changes were observed in the control group. Time × Group analyses confirmed intervention-specific effects for shoulder ROM, forearm angle, and right sternocleidomastoid activation.Discussion These findings suggest that short-term Feldenkrais-based exploratory practice produces coordinated changes in movement organization and neuromuscular activation that are not explained by repeated movement practice alone, with ROM changes consistent with altered intersegmental coordination rather than passive mechanical effects.
SN - 1662-5161
ER -