Piloting Movement-to-Music With Arm-based Sprint-Intensity Interval Training Among Children With Physical Disabilities

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · Nov 8, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is testing a 12-week at-home exercise program for children with cerebral palsy. The program, called Movement-to-Music, uses arm-based sprint-style intervals guided by YouTube videos with coaching over the phone or internet. Researchers want to see if this approach can improve the child’s heart and fitness (measured by peak oxygen use during a movement test) and also affect body composition and some health markers like blood sugar and cholesterol. All participants are randomised to either start the Movement-to-Music program right away or wait 12 weeks (the wait-list control), with outcomes looked at during weeks 0 and 13. Safety and how well the program is followed are also tracked.

Who can participate and what to expect: about 50 child–caregiver pairs, with kids aged 6 to 17 who have cerebral palsy and can walk with GMFCS levels I–III, and who can get medical clearance for high‑intensity exercise. Families must have home internet and a caregiver to help with safety and scheduling. The study is conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Participants will undergo several assessments, including a fitness test on an arm bike and tests of body fat, lean mass, and some blood health markers. If you have concerns about safety or the time commitment, you’ll discuss these with the study team during screening. Results are not yet available, and enrollment is ongoing by invitation.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • We are recruiting 50 parent-child dyads. Childs are the participant undergoing the exercise intervention. Parents are required to support the safety and schedule of the child participant. Parents are considered participants due to their responsibilities.
• Inclusion Criteria:
• • have a medical diagnosis of cerebral palsy, as determined by ICD-10 codes
• • aged 6-17 years old
• • a Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I-III (as determined via participant screening, explained in the protocol section below)
• • medical clearance to participate in high-intensity exercise from a physician (using the attached medical screening form and explained in the intervention safety, monitoring, and response plan)
• • access to a Wi-Fi Internet connection in the home via mobile phone or tablet computer
• • a caregiver who will support and monitor the participant's safety during the intervention and manage the child's exercise schedule.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • physically active (defined as \>150 minutes per week of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise in a typical week)
• • cannot use their arms for exercise
• • a Gross Motor Function Classification Level of IV-V
• • complete blindness or deafness;
• • Any past history of a contraindication to exercise testing according to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines (Liguori and American College of Sports Medicine, 2020): significant change in the resting electrocardiogram suggesting significant ischemia, myocardial infarction, or other cardiac event, unstable angina, uncontrolled cardiac dysrhythmias causing symptoms or hemodynamic compromise, symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, uncontrolled symptomatic heart failure, pulmonary embolus or pulmonary infarction, myocarditis or pericarditis, aneurysm.
• • pregnant (due to radiation from a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry \[DEXA\] scan)
• • has not been seen by a physician within the last year
• • uses a g-tube
• • Eligible caregivers will include parents or legal guardians of the child, who can commit sufficient time to support the child in their roles for the study and communicate in English. Caregivers who have complete blindness or deafness will be excluded from participation.