RaceRunning for Young People With Moderate-to-severe Cerebral Palsy

Physical inactivity in people with cerebral palsy (CP) has been linked with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease. Exercise studies rarely include people with CP with severe walking impairments and assess the sustainability of the intervention. RaceRunning allows people severe walking impairments to independently propel themselves using a running bike, which has a breast plate for support but no pedals. This project will assess the feasibility of at trial into the effectiveness of RaceRunning to reduce cardiometabolic disease risk factors and improve functional mobility. Intervention: Weekly standardised RaceRunning sessions over 6 months led by an experienced coach. Participants Twenty-five young people with CP aged 5-21, GMFCS levels III-V. Feasibility outcomes: Acceptability of RaceRunning, adherence and fidelity of the intervention, recruitment and retention rates and adverse events. Outcome measures: Cardiometabolic disease risk factors (physical activity, sedentary time, resting heart rate and blood pressure and aerobic capacity) and functional mobility assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Quality of life (EQ-5D-Y) and health service use will inform a future cost-effectiveness analysis. Aspects of feasibility and acceptability and the variability and patterns of the change in outcomes will be reported using descriptive statistics.