Tools
Tools
Thacker, Elizabeth (2022) The Health Benefits of Racerunning for Those With a Moderate-To-Severe Neurodevelopmental Disability. Masters thesis, University of Gloucestershire. doi:10.46289/9F9S7RP7
|
Text (Final thesis)
14032 Thacker, Elizabeth (2022) The Health Benefits of Racerunning for Those With a Moderate-to-Severe Neurodevelopmental Disability.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License All Rights Reserved. Download (9MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Introduction: Neurodevelopmental disabilities can cause restrictions in mobility, increasing the risk of individuals developing secondary health conditions. For individuals with moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental disabilities, it can be difficult to find activities which improve physical health and reduce this risk. RaceRunning is a developing disability sport designed specifically for individuals with moderate-to-severe disabilities, enabling them to move independently with the potential to improve physical health outcomes. Aim: The present study aims to investigate the effect of RaceRunning on physical health in individuals with moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental disabilities. Method: Five males and 4 females with neurodevelopmental disabilities (18.1 ± 9.8y) completed a 12-week intervention consisting of a 1-hour RaceRunning session per week. Sessions involved a warm-up section, a skills section and a cool down. At baseline and 12 weeks, resting heart rate, blood pressure and thigh and calf circumference were measured. Isometric strength in both legs were also recorded. Cardiorespiratory response to RaceRunning was assessed via a 6-minute RaceRunning test and kinematics of running technique were recorded and analysed during the test. Results: Significant decreases in resting heart rate were observed post intervention (p = 0.038) with no changes in blood pressure (systolic = p = 0.242) (diastolic = p=0.846). No significant differences were observed in thigh (left = p=0.922, right = p =0.404) or calf circumference (left = p = 0.377, right = p = 0.310). Knee flexion isometric strength was significantly higher in both left (p = 0.021) and right (p = 0.006) legs but only significantly higher in the left knee for knee extension (p = 0.018). Plantarflexion saw no significantly different (left = p = 0.139, right = p = 0.075) changes in isometric strength. There was no significant change in the 6-minute RaceRunning test and kinematic changes were only observed in the knee following 12 weeks of RaceRunning. Conclusion: This preliminary evidence suggests there may be some health benefits of RaceRunning to those with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Recruiting a larger cohort and assessing other measures of health may better reflect these changes.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis Advisors: |
|
|||||||||
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Neurodevelopmental disability; Racerunning; Mobility; Health benefits | |||||||||
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry > RC346 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system |
|||||||||
| Divisions: | Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science | |||||||||
| Depositing User: | Kamila Niekoraniec | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 01 May 2024 08:54 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 17 Dec 2024 12:00 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/14032 |
University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record
