Exercise intervention for sleep in neurodevelopmental disorders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study to determine the effect of exercise in children with neurodevelopmental difficulties and sleep problems in an opportunity sample using a pre/post repeated measures design.
IRAS ID
237572
Contact name
Jessica Turnbull
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study will explore parents' views on an exercise intervention aimed at children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and sleep-related difficulties. Research strongly suggests that children with neurodevelopmental disabilities often struggle with both quality and quantity of sleep.
Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities are less likely to access exercise due to a number of barriers: physical difficulties, communication difficulties, accessible exercise interventions, transport, and carer burnout all contribute to this population of children not getting enough exercise.
We know there are many benefits of exercise; better physical and mental health outcomes and better quality sleep, in turn these benefits will impact on parents' wellbeing, and reduce carer burnout. This will potentially reduce demand on services in an already stretched system.
We are proposing that an intervention that focuses on providing tailored, specific exercise may be beneficial for children and in particular have a positive impact on their sleep. The intervention will be set up in a way to minimise barriers to engagement.
The intervention will be aimed at children with neurodevelopmental disabilities that have been referred to a specialist sleep clinic. It will take place at a venue that is set up to provide physical activities for children with disability. The intervention will be run by a qualified instructor and a number of assistants.
The sessions will be twice a week for ten weeks. Each session will last 1.5 hours.
Specifically the study will seek to address the following questions:
- Do parents find the intervention acceptable (semi-structured questionnaire, and attrition rates)
- Does increased exercise improve the sleep of the child and the parent (sleep diaries and a semi structured questionnaire)
- Do parents report improved well being of both the child and family after the intervention? (semi structured questionnaire)
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0262
Date of REC Opinion
26 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion