Frame Running: a new sport for children with limited mobility

Published on 16 January 2024

Updated: 11 June 2024

Action funding has helped develop a new sport for young people with cerebral palsy and other conditions that limit mobility. Frame Running, using a three-wheeled running frame, has been shown to improve fitness, muscle strength and performance of everyday activities, as well as having a positive impact on mental health and social interaction.

Children with cerebral palsy, as well as other conditions that limit mobility, can find it challenging to take part in physical activities. This can lead to a lack of exercise that persists throughout their lives.

With joint funding from Action Medical Research and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust, Dr Marietta van der Linden and Dr Jennifer Ryan assessed how a new physical exercise, and sport, called Frame Running, could encourage children and young people to increase physical activity, and whether it has a long-lasting positive effect on their health and wellbeing. 

Children and young people across England and Scotland took part in the study, doing weekly training sessions for three months. This showed that Frame Running is a feasible, enjoyable and safe activity for children and young people with severe walking difficulties. Those taking part showed improvements in their resting heart rate, muscle strength and performance of activities, such as being able to walk for longer and walking uphill. They also said they enjoyed the sense of freedom and speed of Frame Running, and that it provided them with opportunities to be active and competitive. Parents felt that Frame Running can also act as physiotherapy or a rehabilitation strategy.

The experience gained during the Action project helped lead to the promotion of a new Frame Running group via World Abilitysport to develop a RunFree project, and attract more athletes throughout Europe.

The researchers hope results from the Action study, and follow-on work, will highlight the benefits of Frame Running more widely to families, physiotherapists, consultants, teachers, and disability sport providers. Within five years, they believe we could see community sports providers and schools initiating Frame Running groups to help even more children with cerebral palsy and mobility problems.

Ians Story

Twelve-year-old Ian is, his mum Sheena says, a happy child who loves trying out new sports: “He’ll give anything a go,’ she says. “He has a real ‘can do’ attitude. He also loves music and can ‘feel’ it as well as play it.” But with cerebral palsy affecting one side of his body, Ian faces difficulties with his muscle strength, stiffness, coordination and balance.

Thankfully, Ian's fine motor skills and speech are not affected, and he excels in areas such as language and comprehension. But the family’s routine includes 30 minutes of stretching exercises every day before school to help Ian’s stiff muscles. He uses walking aids and, part of the time, a wheelchair.

In August 2019, Sheena came across Frame Running (formerly known as RaceRunning), an innovative sport for people with moderate-to-severe walking impairments that involves using a custom-built tricycle without pedals. 

“Ian really took to it and he loves to compete,” says Sheena.  

Ian initially enjoyed regular coaching sessions as part of a pilot study led by Action-funded researchers*. His potential as an athlete quickly shone through, and his sporting future looks exciting. 

Four years on, Ian continues to thoroughly enjoy all that Frame Running offers. He has now twice represented Scotland at the annual international competition for Frame Runners from all around the world, organised by the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA). 

“He’s made new friendships and learned new training techniques and come back on both occasions with four gold medals and a few personal best times,” says Sheena proudly. 

Ian’s family continues to be involved in an Edinburgh-based Frame Running club to enable more children like Ian to benefit.

It is the inclusive, freeing aspects of Frame Running that make the most difference to children with disabilities, says Sheena. “When I see the children there, their faces light up. It’s giggle, giggle the whole time. Frame Running gives them physical independence and a sense of achievement,” she says.

Cerebral palsy affects many babies born very prematurely, as Ian was. It is the most common serious physical disability in children, affecting around 2,000 babies born in the UK each year. 

Research that may help is therefore very important: “Finding new ways to increase physical activity in children with cerebral palsy could have long-lasting positive effects on their health and wellbeing,” says researcher Dr Ryan. 

* This study was co-funded with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust. Find out more here.

For more information on the product ranges visit our websites www.lightweightmobilityandseating.co.uk www.framerunneruk.co.uk

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