Young people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) are more likely to have poor health and academic outcomes due to low physical activity levels and prolonged sitting, compared to children without a disability. Good cognitive ability is important for academic functioning and is affected by exercise and lifestyle including diet. Data suggests that breaking sitting with regular breaks of physical activity improves post-prandial glucose responses, which may be one of the mechanisms driving cognitive improvements. While young people with CP gain both physical and psychosocial benefits from physical activity, current barriers to participation are significant. This has a negative economic and social impact on the life chances of young people with CP and their families.
This PhD will build on exciting findings from our team exploring the effect of different types of exercise dose on cognitive and metabolic outcomes in young people with CP. A program will be developed to support young people with CP and their families and teachers to integrate physical activity into education settings to improve attention and memory for better learning. This PhD will enable the opportunity to work within a World leading team with global connections to build this program of research.
The PhD project involves three phases. 1: informal interviews will be undertaken with young people with CP, families, teachers and health care professionals to gain perspectives and perceptions. 2: obtain input and consensus from an expert panel to co-design the physical activity and lifestyle program. 3: evaluate the feasibility of implementation and evaluation of the potential of the program, and this will take place either within the classroom during the school day, or remotely in the home environment.
Supervisors: Dr Shelly Coe, Dr Liana Nagy (Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health, Centre for Movement Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences, Oxford Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research)
Collaborators: Professor Helen Dawes, Professor Barry Carpenter, mainstream and special needs schools throughout the UK.
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