%0 Journal Article
%T 'Walk Buds': A walking intervention to increase physical activity, physical fitness, and emotional wellbeing, in 9-13 year old children with intellectual disabilities. Results of a clustered randomised feasibility trial.
%A Mullhall P
%A Taggart L
%A McDermott G
%A Slater P
%A Fitzpatrick B
%A Murphy MH
%A Hassiotis A
%A Johnston A
%J J Appl Res Intellect Disabil
%V 37
%N 5
%D 2024 Sep
%M 38937072
%F 2.162
%R 10.1111/jar.13260
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Children with intellectual disability are less physically active and more sedentary than typically developing peers. To date no studies have tested the feasibility of a school-based walking intervention for children with Intellectual Disability.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A clustered randomised controlled trial (cRCT), with an embedded process evaluation, was used to test the feasibility of a school-based walking intervention. Eight schools (n = 161 pupils aged 9-13 years) were randomised into either an intervention arm or an 'exercise as usual' arm. Measures included physical activity, physical fitness and emotional wellbeing. Baseline and 3-month follow-up data were collected.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The 'Walk Buds' intervention was found to be acceptable to teaching staff and pupils, with an uptake rate of the walking sessions offered of 84%.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>A number of challenges were experienced, relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and difficulties collecting accelerometer data. Barriers, facilitators and required changes identified through the mixed methods process evaluation are discussed.