None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This is a single-subject research design involving three participants. Recruitment will occur through Dreamfit and Ability Centre (which are affiliated) via dissemination of information to families. Screening of potential participants by a physiotherapist will occur to determine their suitability. Weekly assessment of outcome measures will occur during a 5-week baseline and 12-week intervention period, and at 4-week follow-up. These assessments will include lower limb range of movement (ROM), lower limb muscle strength, timed up and go assessment (TUG), heart rate during exercise, enjoyment (using a 5-point Smiley Scale) and a 2-minute walk test (2MWT). Probes (at the beginning and end of each phase) will include: the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire (CP-QOL). The trampoline intervention will involve twice weekly sessions at Dreamfit, where the bungee trampoline is located. The sessions will be run by the student (AG, one session a week) and a physiotherapist (one session a week), with an individualised programme suitable for each participants abilities and goals. At the conclusion of the program, an additional ‘exit’ interview will help to establish the usability of the adaptive bungee trampoline.
Interventions
An ‘adaptive bungee trampoline’ has been designed by engineers at Dreamfit to allow children with physical disabilities to be harnessed safely and utilise the trampoline. The harness is designed to provide comfort and stability around the trunk. The trampoline is accessible by hoist for children who are non-ambulatory or require the use of a walking aid.
Using a Single Subject Research Design, participants will be assessed once a week over a 5 week baseline period whereby they will continue wi
An ‘adaptive bungee trampoline’ has been designed by engineers at Dreamfit to allow children with physical disabilities to be harnessed safely and utilise the trampoline. The harness is designed to provide comfort and stability around the trunk. The trampoline is accessible by hoist for children who are non-ambulatory or require the use of a walking aid. Using a Single Subject Research Design, participants will be assessed once a week over a 5 week baseline period whereby they will continue with their 'normal care routine', they will be asked not to commence any new physical activities in this time. The 12 week intervention period will consist of two 30-minute one-on-one sessions a week: one session run by a paediatric physiotherapist and the other session run by a physiotherapy student who has been trained by a physiotherapist (AG). The trampoline set up will be individualized for the child in regard to height and number of straps used to adjust the resistance to jumping. This will allow the physiotherapist to modify the ease with which the child can jump and change the muscle work of the child. This will be useful in adjusting the equipment to suit each child’s ambulatory status. During the 30 minutes, the child will complete an individualised training program that has been developed by the physiotherapist. This will include a range of exercises that aim to keep the child as active as possible for the full half hour, while making sure it is safe and not too difficult for them. During this session, the child’s Heart Rate will be recorded every 5 minutes, as well as their Rating of Perceived Exertion. This will be recorded in the child’s training diary to gauge the exercise intensity throughout the session. In the child’s training diary, the trainer will also record the exercises the child successfully completed and will write any additional comments, for example, the amount of time the child spent during the session jumping.
Sponsors
Sian Williams
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
5 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants aged between 5 and 18 years inclusive and having a physical disability involving their lower limbs will be included in this study. All participants will be screened by a physiotherapist prior to beginning the intervention to ensure that the intervention is suitable and safe for them. Participants will be included if they are classified as GMFCS I to IV.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded from this study if they have had any recent surgeries or illnesses that have resulted in prolonged changes in daily activity or bed rest, have atlanto-axial instability, haemophilia, any conditions causing a high risk of fractures (brittle bones, osteoporosis, and any other pathology fractures), uncontrolled seizures, or spinal fusions with internal fixations.
Outcome results
None listed