How can kids with congenital heart disease be better
supported to stay physically active?
Getting The right amount
of physical activity each day is essential for kids
to live a healthy lifestyle.
But the majority of kids
with congenital heart disease aren't getting enough of it,
which makes it hard to play with their friends
and can lead to health challenges as they grow up
proactive physical activity.
Counseling for kids with congenital heart disease is
recommended at every visit to the clinic,
but doctors have said a lack of information, time
and resources or barriers for them.
That's why a research study led
by the Chio Research Institute
evaluated an in-clinic counseling program
to see if it improved the physical activity levels
of children and youth with congenital heart disease.
Half of the study participants were given
of physical activity intervention made up
of the following four components.
There were posters around clinic
encouraging physical activity, questions and conversations.
The clinician delivered key messages about a healthy,
active day and the activities appropriate
for each child on request.
The support of a kinesiologist was available
throughout the study period.
Children and youth and their families were encouraged
to ask questions about physical activity until all
of their concerns were addressed.
The other half of the study, participants known
as the control group, received the regular physical activity
information provided by the clinic,
and all of the trial participants completed a questionnaire
at the start and the end of the six month study,
and were asked to wear a pedometer
to track their steps each day.
What we discovered was that if the kid was highly active
before the study, it didn't matter which study group they
were assigned to, they maintained a healthy,
active lifestyle, but for the kids
who were less active coming into the study, we discovered
that with the extra supports
and information, the less active kids were able
to maintain their physical activity levels at recommended
levels throughout the six month study.
And the kids in the control group
who didn't receive the extra support
had their activity levels diminish over time to a level
that was below the recommended daily
amount of physical activity.
This shows that with the right information, resources,
and support clinics can support kids
with congenital heart disease to have active lifestyles
so they can live their best life.