Walkabout: a program to increase physical activity among young adults with Down syndrome
Walkabout: a program to increase physical activity among young adults aged between 18 and 35 years with Down syndrome and mild to moderate intellectual disability
Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University grant
16 participants
Sep 4, 2012
Interventional
Conditions
Summary
This randomised controlled trial will compare the effect of an 8-week mentored physical activity program called Walkabout compared with a social program for young adults with Down syndrome aged 18-35 years. Specifically, it will examine if Walkabout increases their level of physical activity.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- (i) Young adults with Down syndrome
- (ii) Mild to moderate intellectual disability, as perceived by their parents or carers
- (iii) Ability to follow simple verbal instructions in English.
- (iv) Fit and well enough to participate in a physical activity program.
Exclusion Criteria3
- (i) Participation in a physical activity program 3 months prior to their participation in the trial,
- (ii) An acute or concurrent medical condition rendering a participant unfit to participate in moderate level physical activity based on medical advice,
- (iii) A significant behavioural problem that would impact on their ability to participate,
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Interventions
Participants in the intervention group will complete an 8-week, mentored physical activity program called Walkabout. They will undertake to complete 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week during the program. The first 2 weeks will be a familiarisation phase, to introduce the program to the participants and allow them to adapt to the program with the aim of building up to 150 minutes of moderate activity by week 3. Each participant will be teamed with a student mentor who will be a physiotherapy student. The participant and their mentor will complete two walking sessions together each week (each session will be 45 minutes in duration). The other 60 minutes of activity will be individually tailored to the circumstances of the participant. A planning session on how to implement these additional 60 minutes of walking without the mentor will be conducted at the start of the intervention period with a member of the research team, and a second planning session will be undertaken after 4 weeks to review progress and to make changes if necessary. All participants will receive motivational prompts (postcard reminders). The participants will wear a pedometer while they are walking to measure the number of steps completed in each session. They will also be encouraged to walk briskly. Information about the activity they do will be noted in a log-book.
Locations(1)
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ACTRN12612001113842