LEARN2MOVE 16-24: Effectiviteit van een leeftijdsspecifieke interventie ter bevordering van mobiliteit-gerelateerde dagelijkse activiteit en fysieke fitheid van jongeren en jongvolwassenen met spastische cerebrale parese.

The aim of the research is to evaluate the efficacy and working mechanisms of the "active lifestyle" intervention, which is directed to strategies to prevent low levels of daily activities and poor fitness in adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. The intervention consists of different parts with e.g. a physical training program en strategies to achieve a change in lifestyle with respect to the daily activity. This intervention will be evaluated in this longitudinal research by comparing several outcome measures between a group of persons with CP receiving the intervention and a group of persons with CP receiving no intervention (regular at this age). To evaluate the working mechanisms, the focus will be on the relation between mobility related activites, physical fitness and obesity.



In this longitudinal multicenter research an intervention will be evaluated on adolescents with spastic CP. The measurements will take place before, during and direct after finishing the intervention. There will be a follow-up measurement 12 months after the start of the intervention.



The research sample will be randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group will receive the intervention “Active Lifestyle and Sports participation” and the control group will receive no intervention, which is regular at adolescent age. The research assistants which will perform the measurements are blinded for treatment allocation.



It is possible for the participant allocated to the control group, to start the intervention after finishing the research.

We hypothesize that by following the intervention the participants will learn a more active lifestyle.

1. 09-2008 / 09-2009: preparation trial;

2. 09-2009/09-2011: inclusion period;

3. 09-2011/09-2012: data analysis & publication.

The intervention “Active Lifestyle and Sports Participation” consists of 3 parts:

1. Personal counseling; this part aims to achieve a behavioral change towards a more active lifestyle by means of 6 individual counseling sessions with a personal coach. This part of the intervention is based on the ‘Stages of Change’ concept of the transtheoretical model. This model distinguishes 5 stages and each stages needs a different approach of the personal coach to stimulate a change in behaviour. Duration; 6 months;

2. Fitness training; this part aims to improve the physical fitness of the participants and consists of group training sessions in the centre and home training sessions (both 1 hour / week). The training is directed to improve the aerobic capacity and the muscle force. Group training sessions are under supervision of a physical therapist. Home training sessions will be monitored by heart frequency registration. The duration of this part of the intervention is 3 months. After this period the possibilities will be explored to continue the training in the periphery;

3. Sports Participation; This part of the intervention consists of 2 to 5 counseling sessions with a sports counsellor where the preferences and possibilities of sports activities are discussed. In this way the sports counsellor can create a tailored sports advice. It is also possible to follow several sport specific workshops. The duration of this part of the intervention is variable with a maximum of 6 months. This part of the intervention is optional.



An individual approach is applied during all parts of the intervention (tailored treatment).