Standing Up for Cerebral Palsy

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Standing up for Cerebral Palsy: Evaluation of a Standing Physical Activity Intervention

  • IRAS ID

    240760

  • Contact name

    Helen Dawes

  • Contact email

    hdawes@brookes.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Oxford Brookes University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 2 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Young people who are more active tend to have better health and perform stronger academically. These effects last into adulthood affecting life chances. Young people with cerebral palsy (YPwCP) have lower endurance and greater muscular weakness than their non-disabled peers, which can be exacerbated by sedentary behaviors and lack of physical activity. There is research evidence that YPwCP often develop secondary conditions such as chronic pain, fatigue, and osteoporosis as a result of low physical activity levels. Allowing YPwCP to engage in brief structured physical activity breaks in schools, could potentially enhance their physical, cognitive, academic, social performance, and legislative framework.\n\nChildren who sit a lot and are less active are more likely to become overweight, insulin resistant and perform less well in academic subjects. School based activities enable all children to benefit, including those with disabilities. \nPhysiotherapists have the skills to help support teachers to enable these young people to increase activity and reduce inactivity in school and thus support a key stated priority for young people with cerebral palsy and their families, which is to reduce inactivity and increase physical activity.\n\n\nWe will measure the effect of interrupting prolonged sitting with brief standing physical activity (PA) interventions in YPwCP.\n(a) To assess the extent of the immediate and short-term effects of interrupting sitting with brief PA breaks of moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) compared to a sitting only condition on cognitive performance, mobility, health and well-being.\n(b) To assess if changes in insulin sensitivity mediate the immediate and short term effects of interrupting sitting time with PA breaks on physical, cognitive performance, health and well-being outcomes.\n\nAll of the researchers will have DBS clearance before commencement of the study. Any instance of safeguarding issues will be reported to chief investigator immediately who will take necessary actions.\n\n

  • REC name

    London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/LO/1036

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Jul 2018

  • REC opinion

    Unfavourable Opinion