Fitness in specialist schools: Increasing the opportunities for aerobic activity in young people with cerebral palsy, a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cerebral palsy.; Reduced levels of habitual physical activity.; Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation - Physiotherapy; Reduced levels of aerobic fitness.; Public Health - Health promotion/education; Neurological - Other neurological disorders

• Registration Number: ACTRN12611000823976
• Lead Sponsor: Ms Stacey Carlon

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2011-08-04
• Last Update Posted: 13 January 2020

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must be aged between 8-18 years, be able to follow simple instruction in English, and have a reliable yes/no response. Participants must be classified as between levels I-III on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and be well enough to take part in an intensive exercise training program.

Exclusion Criteria

Young people with cerebral palsy will be ineligible to participate if they have poorly controlled epilepsy, or another medical condition, if they have participated in a strength or aerobic training programme in the six months prior, or if they have received lower limb botulinum toxin injections, serial casting or orthopaedic surgery any time in the six months leading up to their commencement of the trial.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The primary outcome for this phase one randomised controlled trial will be an assessment of the feasibility and acceptability of the aerobic training program, in the specialist school setting.<br><br>Throughout the intervention adherence will be measured through thorough monitoring and recording of both attendance and level of participation once present.<br><br>Safety will be monitored through the use of a log book provided to participants and their families for recording of any adverse events or physical complaints experienced outside of school hours. Comprehensive observation for adverse events by a physiotherapist will occur, through questioning of participants at each training session and review of log book.<br><br>Acceptance will be gauged through semi-structured in-depth interviews of participants in the aerobic exercise group, to gauge their experiences and attitudes toward the intervention. Teachers, therapists and parents will also be engaged in interviews post-intervention.[Post-intervention]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Aerobic and anaerobic capacity will be assessed through:<br> - Submaximal treadmill test<br> - Muscle power sprint test<br> - 6 minute walk test[Baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 10) and follow-up (week 20).];Habitual physical activity and levels of sedentary behaviour will be assessed through use of an accelerometer (RT3), attached to participants' waistbands and worn during all waking hours for a period of 8 days.[Baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 10) and follow-up (week 20).];Participation will be measured with the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE).[Baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 10) and follow-up (week 20).];Quality of Life will be gauged by the CP QOL-Child.[Baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 10) and follow-up (week 20).];Function within the school environment will be assessed with the School Function Assessment (SFA).[Baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 10) and follow-up (week 20).]