Piloting Movement-to-Music With Arm-based Sprint-Intensity Interval Training Among Children With Physical Disabilities

This study is investigating the potential effects of a high-intensity home-exercise program among children with cerebral palsy. The program includes rhythmic movements to music that are adapted for wheelchair uses and age-appropriate themes. This project has the potential to address a large knowledge gap in the extant literature, because there are no widely accessible, evidence-based, enjoyable, and age-appropriate modalities for improving cardiovascular fitness or cardiometabolic health among children with disabilities who have mobility disabilities.

Inclusion Criteria:have a medical diagnosis of cerebral palsy, as determined by ICD-10 codesaged 6-17 years olda Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I-III (as determined via participant screening, explained in the protocol section below)medical clearance to participate in high-intensity exercise from a physician (using the attached medical screening form and explained in the intervention safety, monitoring, and response plan)access to a Wi-Fi Internet connection in the home via mobile phone or tablet computera caregiver who will support and monitor the participant's safety during the intervention and manage the child's exercise schedule.Exclusion Criteria:physically active (defined as >150 minutes per week of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise in a typical week)cannot use their arms for exercisea Gross Motor Function Classification Level of IV-Vcomplete blindness or deafness;contraindications to exercise testing according to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines (Liguori and American College of Sports Medicine, 2020): (recent significant change in the resting electrocardiogram suggesting significant ischemia, recent myocardial infarction (within 2 days), or other acute cardiac event unstable angina, uncontrolled cardiac dysrhythmias causing symptoms or hemodynamic compromise, symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, uncontrolled symptomatic heart failure, acute pulmonary embolus or pulmonary infarction, acute myocarditis or pericarditis, suspected or known dissecting aneurysm, acute systematic infection, accompanied by fever, body aches, or swollen lymph glands.)pregnant (due to radiation from a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry [DEXA] scan)uses a pacemaker (a pacemaker will compromise the readings of the heart rate monitor used in this study)has not been seen by a physician within the last yearuses a g-tubeEligible caregivers will include parents or legal guardians of the child, who can commit sufficient time to support the child in their roles for the study and communicate in English. Caregivers who have complete blindness or deafness will be excluded from participation.