Physical Activity for health, and rehabilitation

iRehab: Remote multicomponent rehabilitation compared to standard care for survivors of critical illness after hospital discharge: a randomised controlled assessor-blind clinical and cost-effectiveness trial with internal pilot.
People treated in intensive care need a great deal of special care and support. After discharge from hospital, some people find their muscles are still weak and their ability to exercise and to do everyday things may still be affected. This UK study aims to investigate, the effects of a six week remote multicomponent rehabilitation intervention compared to standard care on quality of life in survivors of critical illness following discharge from ICU.

This trial is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (project number 132871). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

For more information on iRehab:

• iRehab (warwick.ac.uk)
• iRehab - NIHR

Funded by Heart Research UK, the aim of the STRENGTH study (Self-management and Theory-based Rehabilitation Encouraging New Gateways To Healthy Hearts) is to research how behaviour change helps in cardiac rehabilitation services.

Guidelines recommend that coronary heart disease (CHD) patients should be offered cardiac rehabilitation (CR). CR programmes reduce the risk of death and illness, but it is likely that patients will stop exercising without enough support. This project will see whether behaviour change can encourage CHD patients taking part in community-based CR programmes to stay active for longer.

• Get more information on the STRENGTH project

Funded by Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke and will be completed in July 2023. The study is investigating the feasibility of adding an evidence based upper limb programme onto an established exercise program for people with stroke in Northern Ireland. Working alongside clinicians and third sector partners, the study is focusing on the feasibility of embedding this programme into the stroke pathway in Northern Ireland.

For more information contact: contact: k.pedlow@ulster.ac.uk

This programme of work spans across three PhDs and two exploratory studies. We want to establish how to support people with neurological conditions to be more physically active. Working in collaboration with the Mae Murray Foundation, our programme of work focuses on intervention development, education provision for healthcare and exercise professionals and embedding frameworks to enable inclusive environments.

For more information contact: k.pedlow@ulster.ac.uk

The RISUS research project (Rugby Injury Surveillance in Ulster Schools) was initiated in 2014 due to international concerns around safety in youth rugby players. The project is now in its 5th year, making it is one of longest running injury surveillance projects (in any sport) across the island of Ireland. Key collaborators and funders include the Irish Rugby Football Union, Ulster Rugby, University College Dublin, and the MITRE trust. The project leaders at Ulster are Dr Chris Bleakley (CHart) and Dr Mark Matthews (SESRI).

For more information contact: c.bleakley@ulster.ac.uk