Long-term involvement in fitness enablement (LIFE) study.
Lead researcher: Dr Helen Dawes, Oxford Brookes University
Start date: Mid 2006. End date mid 2009
Email: hdawes@brookes.ac.uk
Background
Regular exercise can provide health benefits in terms of physical fitness,
mental health, disease prevention and social inclusion. People with neurological
disorders such as Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebral Palsy;
have been shown to benefit from physical activities that are prescribed
specially for them. However, this is usually only available through
rehabilitation programmes in hospitals, delivered by physiotherapists using
a medical model, and which do not empower people to become involved in
community-based activities.
Physical activities such as walking on a treadmill, muscle strengthening
and functional circuit-type exercises have been shown to improve mobility
and also provide health benefits. They can encourage people to get out
in the community and can be adapted in their format and delivery to suit
individual preferences. Although there is no specific evidence how many
people with neurological conditions take part in physical exercise, subjective
evidence such as articles written by service users suggests that this may
be limited. Indeed, user groups approached the research team to explore
exercise provision in the community because of perceived uncertainty about
its value and low levels of participation. We will work with service users
to investigate participation in physical activities in people with neurological
disease living in the community of Oxfordshire.
Aims
1) To establish how people would like exercise programmes supported
2) To provide information on current ‘community mobility’
3) To determine whether exercise sessions provided in a leisure centre,
with a physical activity provision support system (PASS), is effective
in improving activity levels
What we will do and how we will do it
We will use focus groups, surveys and interviews to explore activity levels, participation in leisure time exercise and preferences in individuals with neurological diseases. We will then develop and evaluate a personalised PASS using this evidence in consultation with exercise professionals. A steering group, led by people with neurological conditions, will guide us throughout.
Results of the Research
The information obtained from this study will be used to inform a bigger national study planned to enable involvement in physical activities in this group of individuals.
Progress reports
Winter 2007 Update
We have completed early focus group work and pilot feasibility studies
to develop the client centred PASS and a fitness-professional support system
for use within Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) centres. [The IFI is
a programme that supports the fitness industry to become more inclusive,
catering for the needs of disabled and non-disabled people. For more information
go to: http://www.inclusivefitness.org/gettingpeopleactive/.]
A randomised controlled trial examining participation and adherence
at IFI centres when supported with the developed PASS is now underway.
Studies examining the extent to which people with LTNCs participate in
opportunities to exercise in community settings (rather than hospitals)
are ongoing.
Summer 2008 update
The second phase of the study is now underway and interim findings from the pilot work are being analysed. Focus groups have involved people with Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Some of the participants are living in residential care homes. It is proving difficult to recruit people with Cerebral Palsy, although various routes are still being tried until recruitment closes in October 2008. It is also becoming apparent from individuals’ feedback that transport difficulties are a major barrier to participation in the project. The shortage of Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) Centres in Oxford and Birmingham is also a factor. Work is underway towards publishing the results from the initial pilot study, the community mobility data and other selected findings.
Further information
Download a PowerPoint presentation LIFE study Oct 08 summarising our work to date.
Summer 2009 Update
Ninety-nine patients were recruited and consented to participate in the LIFE randomised controlled trial; thirty-nine with Parkinson’s Disease, twenty-four with Multiple Sclerosis, nineteen with Muscular Dystrophy, seven with Motor Neuron Disease and ten with other Long Term Neurological Conditions.
Patients were assessed on a range of baseline measures including strength, activity and quality of life and subsequently randomised into the immediate or delayed exercise intervention groups. The number of attendances at the fitness facility and the number of sessions a specialist advisor (physiotherapist) attended with the participant or called the participant were also recorded.
Trial information/study flow will be reported later.
Provisional findings (n=95)
Average gym attendance was 12 sessions (s 8.6, range 1-39) over the three-month period. The specialist advisor average for face-to-face attendance was 3 sessions and telephone. Text or email contact was 3 sessions. Average face-to-face contact was approximately 55 mins and telephone/text/email time was 22 mins. Further details will be analysed at study close.
Winter 2009 Update
The final report for this study will be available shortly. A PowerPoint presentation to the Advisory Group in November 2009 is available to download in PDF format.
