Browsing by Person "Grainger, Andrew"

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An investigation into the minimum accelerometry wear time for reliable estimates of habitual physical activity and definition of a standard measurement day in pre-school children.
(IOP Science, 2014-11) Hislop, Jane; Law, James; Rush, Robert; Grainger, Andrew; Bulley, Catherine; Reilly, John J.; Mercer, Tom
The purpose of this study was to determine the number of hours and days of accelerometry data necessary to provide a reliable estimate of habitual physical activity in pre-school children. The impact of a weekend day on reliability estimates was also determined and standard measurement days were defined for weekend and weekdays. Accelerometry data were collected from 112 children (60 males, 52 females, mean (SD) 3.7 (0.7)yr) over 7 d. The Spearman-Brown Prophecy formula (S-B prophecy formula) was used to predict the number of days and hours of data required to achieve an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.7. The impact of including a weekend day was evaluated by comparing the reliability coefficient (r) for any 4 d of data with data for 4 d including one weekend day. Our observations indicate that 3 d of accelerometry monitoring, regardless of whether it includes a weekend day, for at least 7 h d-1 offers sufficient reliability to characterise total physical activity and sedentary behaviour of pre-school children. These findings offer an approach that addresses the underlying tension in epidemiologic surveillance studies between the need to maintain acceptable measurement rigour and retention of a representatively meaningful sample size.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of play@home
(NHS Health Scotland, 2011-03) Mercer, Tom; Grainger, Andrew; Rush, Robert; Law, James
To date there have been very few research trials or evaluations of the effectiveness of family-based Early Years interventions for physical activity promotion. Moreover, previous evaluations of many Early Years physical activity promotion intervention schemes have understandably focused on implementation processes, outputs (e.g. distribution, access to and uptake of programmes) and short-term outcomes (knowledge, skills, abilities) with, at this time, very little evaluation of their longer-term effectiveness. play@home is a physical activity promotion programme for children from birth to five years which promotes interaction and loving touch to encourage bonding between parent and child. The play@home programme has been developed on the philosophy that parents and carers are children's first educators. In this regard parents/carers are considered to have a crucial role to play in encouraging children to develop friendships and interact with situations outside the family home. The programme is not only about what parents/carers can do for children, but just as importantly, what parents/carers can do with their children. The play@home programme is designed to provide parents and carers with activity ideas for playing with their child from the earliest days. Resources are provided to parents, including three books for the target ages of 0-1 years, 1-3 years, and 3-5 years with inexpensive, easy-to-follow ideas and activities that assist parents with the challenges of parenthood and childcare. The books include activities for babies and children to stimulate their curiosity, imagination and creativity and influence overall development through play activities, movement to music and interaction with other children and adults. The resources are designed to (i) provide parents and carers with free information and guidance, (ii) encourage children's enjoyment of physical activity and play from an early age, (iii) encourage communication through talking and listening, (iv) develop body awareness and promote the development of physical movement, coordination and motor skills, (v) promote the value of social interaction and stimulus so that children learn to interact socially and communicate, and (vi) promote the value of physical touch and positive reassurance.
Perometry measurement of lower limb volume: an investigation of criterion validity.
(2007-06) Bulley, Catherine; Coutts, Fiona; Grainger, Andrew
PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a measurement protocol for the Perometer (400T) and compare it with the tape measure method for the calculation of lower limb volume in healthy individuals. RELEVANCE: A variety of musculoskeletal, vascular and neurological conditions impact on limb volume, therefore its measurement is important in their management. It is frequently measured using geometric calculations from limb circumferences using a tape measure (TM). The Perometer (P) optoelectronic imaging device demonstrates potential to become a gold standard of measurement. However, there is a lack of standardised protocol and research into its validity in the lower limb. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty healthy volunteers participated in the study (22 women, 8 men; mean age 26.0; mean height 67.2 cm; mean weight 171.0 kg). Individuals were excluded if they had relevant specified past medical history. The study was approved by an ethics committee at Queen Margaret University College. METHODS: Pilot work was undertaken to establish a standardised limb position, lower limb landmarks and a percentage of limb length for measurement. Participants were requested to avoid vigorous exercise and alcohol consumption 24 hours prior to testing, and food/fluid intake one hour before. After a 15-minute rest period with the limb elevated to 90 degrees, standardised reference marks were placed to indicate the start and end of TM and P volume calculations. The dominant limb was placed within the P frame in a standardised position. Three P measurements were taken, followed by TM measurements at three-centimetre intervals. Volumes in ml were calculated between the two reference marks using the P computer software and using the TM Disc model method (Man et al, 2004: Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging. 24: 352- 358). ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis involved testing for normality of distribution before using parametric inferential statistics: an ICC (3,1) was used to assess the correlation, and limits of agreement were calculated to assess the degree of agreement, between P and TM limb volume estimates. RESULTS: Limb volume calculations (mean of 3 readings) were 8560 ml (P) and 8717 ml (TM), with a difference of 157 ml. Data were normally distributed (Shapiro-Wilk: p = 0.268 P; 0.602 TM). While the ICC (3,1) indicated good associations between the two measures (r = 0.952), limits of agreement analysis indicated that 95% of the time P limb volume estimates will be between 519 ml greater, and 834 ml less than TM estimates, indicating 15.67% variation, and poor agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated poor agreement and therefore measurement methods are not interchangeable. However, results cannot determine the respective accuracy of each method. IMPLICATIONS: This was the first study to calculate limits of agreement between estimates of lower limb volume using the TM method and upright 400T model of Perometer. Further work is needed in relation to different aspects of validity and reliability to determine which method is more accurate and should therefore be used as a gold standard