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 physical disabilities (PwD). Physical disabilities can affects motor control, skill, and coordination. There is an association between the severity of a disability and the presence of additional health and psychosocial issues leading to greater complexity of the condition. PwD find it difficult achieving the recommended amounts of physical activity. PwD have often excluded from research, particularly studies relating to exercise. Most PwD research has focused on children and young adolescents with less complex disabilites and who live in metropolitan areas. 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 All-Abilites program has been modelled on FitSkills, which was 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disabilities in community-based exercise, a finding further supported by a mixed-method case study recently completed (unpublished) carried out in a regional area. 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, renamed All-Abilities, can be implemented in a real-world setting for PwD who live regionally. In this study, we want to see if we can implement an intervention that has the potential to help PwD living regionally to improve their health, well-being, and ability to participate in activities that are meaningful to them.
Interventions
A 12-week intervention program is designed for young adults aged 18 to 40 with a personal with a physical disability (PwD) and reside in regional areas. 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 a heatlh related degree at a regional University Campus in Warrnambool,
A 12-week intervention program is designed for young adults aged 18 to 40 with a personal with a physical disability (PwD) and reside in regional areas. 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 a heatlh related degree at a regional University Campus in Warrnambool, Victoria or Cairns, Queensland. These mentors will not be functioning as personal trainers or health specialists will exercise alongside the PwD, 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 hours of online disability awareness training and one hour in person training, covering program content, manual handling, and strategies to motivate and support PwD. 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, 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, screened prior for access and safety, 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. Gym staff (2), will also be interviewed after the intervention for their perspectives on the trial.
Sponsors
CQUniversity: Appleton Institute
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: Persons with Physical Disability • Aged between 18 and 40 years. • Has a non-progressive physical disability. • Can follow simple instructions delivered through their preferred method of communication (e.g., verbal, written, or gestured). • Able to provide their own consent (in written, spoken, or gestured form). • Able to participate in a moderate-to-high intensity exercise program as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+) (15). If clearance is indicated by the screening tool, the participant must obtain approval from a general practitioner at their own expense. 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. Group 3: Gym Staff • Member of participating gym, who participated in CQU Disability & Health Micro-credentialing Training and assisted with the all-abilities gym program.
Exclusion criteria
Group 1: Persons with Physical Disability 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