東京科学大学の室伏広治教授（スポーツサイエンス担当 副学長）らの研究グループは、箱根駅伝で連続優勝を果たした大学駅伝チームの協力を得て、身体意識とトレーニング効果・ケガの発生との関係を検証する前向き研究を実施しました。
本研究では、選手自身が身体の状態を確認する「KOJI AWARENESS（KA）テスト」をシーズン前後に実施し、その結果に基づく個別の改善エクササイズを継続。シーズン後の自己評価に基づいてグループ分けを行い、機能スコアの改善度やケガの発生率を比較しました。
その結果、「身体への気づき」が高かった選手ほど、身体機能の改善が顕著で、調査期間中に一例のケガも報告されませんでした（※統計学的には有意差なし）。これは、身体意識がトレーニングの効果を高め、ケガ予防にも寄与する可能性を示唆する重要な知見です。
本成果は、国際学術誌 Frontiers in Psychology（スポーツ心理学セクション）に掲載され、東京科学大学 医科病院ホームページでも紹介されています。
Read the full article in Frontiers in Psychology
Featured on the Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital website
A research team led by Professor Koji Murofushi, Vice President for Sport Science at the Institute of Science Tokyo, has published a prospective study on bodily awareness, functional improvement, and injury risk in Frontiers in Psychology(Sport Psychology section).
The study was conducted with the cooperation of a university Ekiden team that won the Hakone Ekiden two years in a row. Elite male long-distance runners underwent KOJI AWARENESS (KA) tests before and after the season and engaged in corrective exercises tailored to their results.
Athletes who reported strong awareness of their physical condition not only showed significantly greater improvements in KA scores, but experienced zero injuries during the observation period (although the difference was not statistically significant). This suggests that bodily awareness may play a vital role in amplifying the effectiveness of training and preventing overuse injuries.
This work highlights the importance of self-perception and embodied intelligence—concepts deeply rooted in Japanese traditions such as Zen and Budo. The results offer new insights for enhancing athlete performance and health in both clinical and sports settings.
Read the full article in Frontiers in Psychology
Featured on the Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital website