Digitally delivered exercise in helping people to move more
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Salaso Moving More: The impact of digitally delivered precision exercise in helping people to move more
IRAS ID
300828
Contact name
J H Macdonald
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bangor University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Salaso Moving More: The influence of digitally delivered precision exercise in helping people to move more
WHY?
Obesity is increasingly prevalent in the UK, with almost a quarter of adults self-reporting to be obese in Wales in 2019. High body mass index is the largest identified contributor to Years Lived with Disability, and the third leading cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years. Obesity is also associated with an increased risk of a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes. The prevalence of obesity is significantly lower amongst those reporting to meet physical activity guidelines, however only 54% of adults undertake the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. The COVID-19 pandemic, and increased waiting lists within the NHS, has highlighted the need for digitalisation and remote access to resources.
WHAT?
The main objective of this study is to examine the influence of the digital exercise prescription platform, Salaso, in increasing habitual physical activity in people on a weight management programme.
WHO?
Participants will be recruited from the BCUHB NHS KindEating programme (BMI >30kg/m^2).
WHERE?
Participants will be recruited remotely, via their KindEating dietician. Assessments and exercise programme will be conducted remotely in the participants’ own home.
HOW?
Participants will be provided with individualised exercise training from exercise specialists, including live classes, on-demand classes and individualised aerobic and strengthening exercise, delivered digitally via the Salaso platform. The study will last two years; each participants involvement will be for 26 weeks; 12-weeks of exercise intervention, 12 weeks of self-efficacy guided intervention and 2 weeks for pre- and post- assessments. Participants will also be offered the opportunity to complete follow up assessments at 6 and 12 months. Patients will be randomised (like flipping a coin) to receive either the exercise intervention/self-efficacy guided intervention or normal routine care. The assessments will include online questionnaires and two assessments of functional capacity.Summary of Results
The study was called “Salaso Moving More: The impact of digitally delivered precision exercise in helping people to move more” and was completed by researchers in the School of Psychology and Sport Science at Bangor University.
The number of people completing enough physical activity to meet government guidelines is low in Wales. The COVID-19 pandemic and increased NHS waiting lists has highlighted the need for online remote access to health resources. Therefore, this study examined whether a 12-week digitally delivered exercise programme could increased physical activity in people with obesity on an NHS weight management programme.
People with obesity who were currently enrolled in KindEating weight management programme within Betsi Cadwaladr University Hospitals Board were invited to take part in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 12-weeks of a remote exercise programme delivered through an online platform or to continue to receive standard routine care. The 12-week exercise intervention involved at home exercise programmes and optional live exercise classes and group calls at weeks 1, 6 and 12, delivered through an online digital health platform (Salaso Health Solutions Ltd., Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland).
We found that people who were in the exercise programme completed a greater amount of physical activity at the end of the 12-week programme compared to those in the standard routine care group. However, nearly half of participants did not complete the assessments at 12-weeks, so the results here may only apply to people who are able to engage with and remain in the exercise programme.
REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
21/WA/0382
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jan 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion