Selected Projects

Current Projects

Development of physical activity monitoring methods in children with CP.
Stansfield B. Funded by EPSRC CASE Studentship HTKTN, PAL Technologies Ltd.

Glasgow Research Partnership in Engineering.
Granat M. Funded by Scottish Government.

Measuring the actual levels and patterns of physical activity of adults with learning disabilities.
Finlayson J. Funded by Baily Thomas Charitable Fund.

The feasibility of a pedometer-based walking programme in combination with a physical activity consultation in Scottish adults aged 65 years and over in a primary care setting.
Mutrie N and Granat M. Funded by Chief Scientist Office.

Comprehensive evaluation of the physiological and functional adaptations induced by locomotor training in incomplete spinal cord injured subjects.
Conway B (University of Strathclyde) and Granat M. Funded by International Spinal Research Trust.

Current Activity

Study of populations:

In – out patient comparisons
Grant M.
Patient care is meant to ensure optimal outcome yet it is clear from our work that the environment of inpatient care is highly sedentary and therefore not likely to provide patients with the opportunity to regain physical mobility.

Spinal cord injury
Coulter E, Granat M and Dall P.
Assessment of the physical activity of people who have sustained a spinal cord injury provides important information on their rehabilitation progress and their adaptation to a new life style. We are developing and implementing methods to monitor both physical activity out and in the wheelchair with the aim of assessing short and long term outcomes of rehabilitation protocols.

Learning disabilites
Finlayson J.
People with learning disabilities have been reported to have low levels of physical activity.  Current activity is aimed towards objectively measuring the lifestyle physical activity/inactivity of adults with learning disabilities, to inform interventions to increase physical activity.

Children’s physical activity
McCrorie P, Sellers C and Stansfield B.
Children must perform considerable amounts of physical activity to maintain health and to develop patterns of behaviour that will benefit them as they develop into adult life.  Massive reductions in the physical activity levels of teenage children have been demonstrated. We are investigating the nature of these changes and possible routes to providing motivation to alter physical activity patterns to promote health.  Children with disability have particular difficulty meeting physical activity targets.  We are characterising the activity of children with cerebral palsy to provide information to guide intervention.

Development of devices:

Toe clearance
Rafferty D.
Increased variability in toe clearance has been linked to increasing incidence of falls.  A device to measure toe clearance in free-living conditions is being developed and tested in clinical populations at risk of falls.

GPS + activity combination
MacLellan G and Granat M.
The combination of worn physical activity monitors and GPS (Global Positioning System) sensors provides insight into where physical activity is occurring. This linkage of data is allowing us to explore how the performance of physical activity is distributed in peoples’ daily lives.

Wheelchair propulsion
Coulter E, Granat M and Dall P.
The positioning of an activity monitor on a wheelchair provides the opportunity to objectively measure physical activity performed by this sedentary population who have difficulties in achieving the physical activity and exercise levels necessary for health.

Interpretation of physical activity patterns:

Pattern description
Chastin S and Mandrychenko O.
We are physically active and we are sedentary for variable amounts of time each day.  The development of appropriate descriptions of the patterns of this activity is leading us to fresh insight into the determination of what constitutes a health physical activity profile, moving away from the notion of 30 minutes a day to a description of how physical activity must be distributed to gain health benefits.

Data presentation
Dall P.
It is important to provide a clear message from any physical activity data collection.  The manipulation and interpretation of collected physical activity information forms a key theme of the work being completed with the Group.

Quantification of function:

Characterisation of cycling activity
Dall P and Maclean D.
Active cycle commuting and recreational cycling provide opportunities for physical activity with potential health benefits.  The addition of monitoring of cycling activity using body worn monitors, to information on walking and sedentary behaviour would provide invaluable insight into free-living physical activity.   We are developing algorithms to allow the determination of cycling bouts.