None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
More than half the people living in Australia do not exercise regularly, an issue even more acute for adults with cerebral palsy (CP). CP is a condition that affects motor control, skill, and coordination. There is an association between the severity of CP and the presence of additional health and psychosocial issues leading to greater complexity of the condition. People with complex CP have more difficulty achieving the recommended amounts of physical activity. Adults with complex CP have rarely been included in research, particularly studies relating to exercise. Most CP research has focused on children and young adolescents with less complex CP (i.e., those who are ambulant). It is often hard for people with disabilities to exercise because of difficulties accessing places where there are opportunities to be active. In addition, they might not have the right support. The FitSkills program was created to address this issue. FitSkills matches people with disabilities and health students (Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Exercise Science) to exercise together in a gym environment. Studies have shown that FitSkills can engage youth with disabilities in community-based exercise. With additional support, including screening, risk assessment, and additional professional support for the peer-mentor health student, FitSkills can be tailored for young people with complex disabilities. Our project examines how well FitSkills can be implemented in a real-world setting for adults with CP who use wheeled mobility (i.e., wheelchair, frames). In this study, we want to see if we can implement an intervention that has the potential to help younger adults with CP improve their health, well-being, and ability to participate in activities that are meaningful to them. So far, our work has reviewed the findings of existing research and has explored the experiences of adults with CP to learn more about what they want and need to exercise in their communities. From the adult’s perspective, it is important they can access the community and be seen by the community. Our next step is to test the feasibility of FitSkills. We aim to ensure it can be implemented and is practical and acceptable for adults with CP who use wheelchairs using elements of an evidence-based feasibility framework.
Interventions
A 12-week intervention program is designed for young adults aged 18 to 40 with cerebral palsy (CP) who utilise wheeled mobility devices. The intervention involves a screening process using the PAR-Q+ questionnaire to assess the participant's readiness for exercise. Medical clearance is sought if indicated by the screening results. Upon clearance, participants will be paired with student peer mentors studying nursing, occupational therapy, or health science at a regional University Campus in Warr
A 12-week intervention program is designed for young adults aged 18 to 40 with cerebral palsy (CP) who utilise wheeled mobility devices. The intervention involves a screening process using the PAR-Q+ questionnaire to assess the participant's readiness for exercise. Medical clearance is sought if indicated by the screening results. Upon clearance, participants will be paired with student peer mentors studying nursing, occupational therapy, or health science at a regional University Campus in Warrnambool. These mentors will not be functioning as personal trainers or health specialists will exercise alongside the adults with CP, following a tailored exercise regime created by a physiotherapist. The intervention consists of two 1-hour sessions per week for 12 weeks, incorporating progressive resistance and aerobic exercises. Intensity will be prescribed at a moderate intensity, and assessed using RPE for cardiovascular exercise and repetition range of 10 to 12 repetitions for progressive strength training. Exercise sessions will be monitored via PhysiTrack, an online exercise prescription, delivery and monitoring tool. Exercises may consist of an arm ergometer for upper limb cardiovascular training and pin loaded machines, bands and cables for progressive strength training, aiming for a repetition range of 10 - 12. Before participation, mentors undergo 2-3 hours of in-person training covering program content, manual handling, and strategies to motivate and support individuals with complex CP. Participants also meet with the principal investigator (PI) for customisation of exercise prescriptions aligned with their goals, preferences, and abilities. Safety instructions on equipment use will be provided in the first week provided, with the PI supervising the initial two gym sessions and conducting weekly check-ins with each exercising pair separately. The intervention will operate within a local council community gym, The intervention PI will be supported by collaborations with physiotherapists and researchers specialising in CP from St Vincent's Hospital and Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Participants will receive a gym membership for the 12-week duration and undergo interviews using semi-structured schedules at the program's conclusion. Outcome measures include validated tools assessing participation, quality of life, and physical fitness data collected and analysed from program logs. Acknowledging inherent risks in physical activity, the program mitigates these risks through thorough screening, medical clearance, and supervised sessions. Previous research has indicated the safety of gym-based exercise sessions for adults with CP utilising wheeled mobility devices.
Sponsors
NHMRC-funded Centre for Research Excellence CP-Achieve (GNT1171758).
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Group 1: Adults with CP 1. Has cerebral palsy or other childhood onset neurodevelopmental disability. 2. Use wheeled mobility for long distances such as to access the community. 3. Can follow simple instructions delivered using their preferred method of communication (e.g., verbal, written or gestured). 4. Are able to provide their own consent (written, spoken, gestured). 5. Ability to participate in a moderate-to-high intensity exercise program as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+), and, if indicated by the screening tool , received clearance from a general practitioner to participate at the expense of the participant Group 2: Student Peer Mentor 1. University student - any year level – from Deakin University School of Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Health Science. 2. Hold current police checks, or willing to obtain prior to commencement of study. 3. Not explicit inclusion criteria but preference for similar age and interests to adult with CP.
Exclusion criteria
Group 1: Adults with CP 1. Have participated in a gym-based program within the past three months. 2. Have an unstable, or acute medical condition and have been deemed unsafe to participate by their doctor or health professional (i.e., epilepsy, cardiac condition). 3. Neurological conditions which are degenerative (i.e., muscular dystrophy). 4. A significant psychological or behavioural disorder that would impact their participation (e.g., resistive behaviour, severe depression, or severe anxiety) as reported by the participant or observed during recruitment and project onboarding.
Outcome results
None listed