Physical activity and digital health
Despite the wealth of evidence demonstrating the numerous health benefits of physical activity, people commonly do not meet recommended physical activity levels. For example, fewer than half of all Irish people (41%) meet recommended physical activity levels and those with health conditions are even more inactive. This puts people, particularly with multiple conditions, at higher risk of serious health problems related to inactivity.
The World Health Organisation global action plan recommends the integration of physical activity services into healthcare systems recognising the unique role of health services/healthcare professionals in national efforts to increase physical activity levels. In Ireland it is a priority to support people with health conditions to be more active.
The RCSI School of Physiotherapy physical activity and digital health cluster research aims to understand and address the barriers to being more active in people with health conditions, and to develop interventions (including digital approaches), and pathways to their delivery in the health system. it is vital that we find effective, sustainable and scalable solutions, that account for increasing complexity of providing physical activity for people with multiple health conditions who present with additional barriers to movement.
The School also focuses on education at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels to improve the delivery of physical activity promotion within healthcare.
Meet our researchers
Principal Investigators
- Prof. Suzanne McDonough (cluster lead)
- Prof. Helen French
- Prof. Frances Horgan
- Dr Ailish Malone
- Dr Grace O’Malley
- Dr Orlagh O’Shea
- Dr Jennifer Ryan
Current postgraduate researchers
Current postgraduate students
- Karen Brady – Physical activity participation
- Eimear McCormack – Breathing devices in the ICU
- Claire Griffin – Upper limb, neurorehabilitation, virtual environment
RCSI collaborators
- Prof. Jan Sorenson
- Prof. Kathleen Bennett
- Dr Ebrahim Rajab
- Prof. Ed Gregg
- Dr Lisa Mellon
Linked research groups and projects
- MAINTAIN – Exploring how to maintain physical activity in people with long-term health conditions
- Obesity Research and Care Group – active projects in this group include: BigO, Mobile Health for Pediatric Weight Management: Systematic Scoping Review, Pediatric Weight Management Through mHealth Compared to Face-to-Face Care: Cost Analysis of a Randomized Control Trial
- CP-Life Research Centre – active projects in this group include: The MOBILE study, AIM (Access Information Map), Digital Technology in Disability Services, iStep-MS: Changing physical activity behaviour among people with multiple sclerosis, Youth Experience Matters.