Aims and Objectives

The first objective of Hugo’s PhD thesis is to comprehensively review the existing literature on methods and instruments used to identify barriers and facilitators to exercise-based rehabilitation in people with musculoskeletal conditions. By examining the current landscape of research, Hugo hopes to gain insights into the most effective ways to identify these crucial factors.

The second aim of Hugo’s research is to identify the barriers and facilitators that impact individual adherence to exercise-based rehabilitation programs. By analyzing the literature, Hugo will shed light on the multitude of factors that can either hinder or enhance an individual’s ability to commit to a rehabilitation regimen.

To gather first-hand data, Hugo plans to conduct a survey informed by the Theoretical Domain Framework. This survey will investigate the specific barriers and facilitators that individuals with knee or hip osteoarthritis face in adhering to exercise-based rehabilitation. By including participants from both metropolitan and regional/rural areas, Hugo aims to capture a diverse range of experiences and challenges.

With the insights gained from the survey, Hugo will then conduct a feasibility study. This study will explore the practicality of implementing a telehealth intervention based on motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy (MI-CBT) strategies. By integrating these evidence-based techniques into a telehealth framework, he hopes to minimize the identified barriers and enhance the facilitators, thereby improving adherence to exercise-based rehabilitation.

Are you an individual living with hip or knee osteoarthritis?

Your input and experiences are invaluable to Hugo’s research! We invite you to participate in a survey designed to identify barriers and facilitators to exercise-based rehabilitation in people with musculoskeletal conditions.

By completing this survey, you will not only contribute to scientific knowledge but also potentially pave the way for future improvements in the management of hip/knee osteoarthritis. Your insights and experiences could directly impact the development of strategies to overcome barriers and enhance facilitators, ultimately improving adherence to exercise-based rehabilitation.

To participate in the survey, please click on the following link: https://redcap.link/BarriersFacilitatorsSM

Your participation is completely voluntary, and all responses will be kept confidential. The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

The post Spotlight on HRI Research: Osteoarthritis appeared first on Holsworth Research Initiative.

# How does sport participation contribute to total physical activity, health, function and wellbeing in regional Victoria?

# The effect of endurance exercise on cardiovascular function and movement efficiency in community level cycling

# Efficacy of e-Bike use for improving health and function

Efficacy of e-Bike use for improving health and function

The benefits of active travel, and cycling, on health have been well researched with a recent systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrating the lowest risk of CVD mortality with 130 minutes per week of cycling at an average, self-selected pace (Zhao et al., 2021). In terms of e-biking, studies have reported that e-biking enables people to achieve moderate levels of physical activity (Sperlich et al., 2012) in addition to reducing travel time when compared to push bikes (Fishman & Cherry, 2016) however, the impacts on health are less clear.

Led by Dr Rodrigo Bini, the E-biking for Human Health project incorporates three individual studies that aim to assess the efficacy of e-bike use for improving health and function in sedentary people. The project consists of an observational study identifying if current health and functional status impacts e-bike uptake in sedentary people as well as an intervention study that will assess changes in physical fitness following a short, unsupervised e-bike aerobic training program. A final randomised control study will build on these research outcomes by comparing the differences between e-bikes, walking and education in health and fitness outcomes of sedentary people.

Progress

Three e-bikes were purchased by the Holsworth Research Initiative for the project in mid-2022. This enabled pilot trials to commence followed by participant recruitment and subsequent data collection. Participants were required to attend La Trobe University Bendigo campus for physical fitness and health assessments as well as a series of familiarity trials before being provided with an e-bike for use for a period of four weeks. Data collection is almost complete with the remaining three participants currently completing their four-week block of unsupervised aerobic training. Following this, analysis of the data will take place and a draft manuscript will be prepared. The expected project completion date for both study one and two is January 2024. The final study in the E-biking for Human Health project is contingent on external funding with a projected start date of January 2024.

We are so pleased to be contributing to the literature on e-biking for human health and can’t wait to report on the findings of these studies in 2024.

Zhao, Y., Hu, F., Feng, Y., Yang, X., Li, Y., Guo, C., … & Hu, D. (2021). Association of Cycling with Risk of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Sports Medicine, 51, 1439-1448.

Fishman, E., and C. Cherry. 2016. E-bikes in the Mainstream: Reviewing a Decade of Research. Transport Reviews 36: 72–91.

Sperlich, B., C. Zinner, K. Hebert-Losier, D.P. Born, and H.C. Holmberg. 2012. Biomechanical, Cardiorespiratory, Metabolic and Perceived Responses to Electrically Assisted Cycling. European Journal of Applied Physiology 112: 4015–4025.

The post Spotlight on HRI Streams: Human Performance appeared first on Holsworth Research Initiative.