Research and Insight

DSAuk carry out, commission and contribute to research covering a multitude of subject areas relating to people living with dwarfism, to gain knowledge and insight informing future work and assisting in delivery of the DSAuk 10 year strategy.

The Cambridge dictionary defines research as; a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding.

DSAuk are making research papers available to all partners and interested parties to help them be better informed in their sporting and activity offer to people with dwarfism.

Research can be broadly categorised into three areas; Sport and Activity Participation, Lifestyle and finally Scientific, with topics ranging from; gaining insight into the needs and wants of DSAuk members in regional and national activity, the impact of disability benefits and their effects on participation in activity, through to detailed scientific studies on the effects of dwarf conditions on a person’s ability to be active.

A number of research reports and studies are available below for download.

Please scroll down and click on the relevant links to access and download the various research reports and studies.

The Activity Trap

Disabled People’s fear of being active (Lifestyle Research)

In a time where we are being encouraged by government to be more active, anecdotal evidence suggested that disabled people were in fear of losing disability benefits if seen to be taking part in sport and being more active. DSAuk commissioned this research, through Activity Alliance and working in partnership with other National Disability Sports Organisations, to substantiate the anecdotal evidence and gain knowledge of how prevalant the fear actually is.

The research shows almost half of disabled people fear losing their benefits if they are seen to be physically active

Activity Alliance and Dwarf Sports Association UK will work with expert partners, including Disability Rights UK, to move forward the recommendations and discussion points from this report.

Neuromuscular Research

Neuromuscular and Kinematic study of adults with achondroplasia. (Scientific Research)

This study considers the functional ability of people with dwarfism and demonstrates the impact of the biomechanical and physiological aspects of dwarfism (achondroplasia) on participation in sport and physical activity.

The thesis formed part of a PhD submission with DSAuk working closely with the research team to recruit participants to the study and share their knowledge of dwarf conditions and prevalence.

As far as is known, this is the first time, worldwide, that a study of this kind has been undertaken.

The Oxygen Consumption and Metabolic Cost of walking and running in adults with achondroplasia. (Scientific Research)

This research paper considers the energetic demands of people with dwarfism when undertaking activity, specifically observing the relationship between oxygen consumption (VO2) and incremental walking and running in adults with achondroplasia.

DSAuk worked closely with the research team to recruit participants to the study and share their knowledge of dwarf conditions and prevalence.

As far as is known, this is the first time, worldwide, that a study of this kind has been undertaken.

Specific Force of the Vastus Laseralis in adults with achondroplasia. (Scientific Research)

This research paper considers the various physiological and biomechanical modulators of force production in muscles of people with achondroplasia.

DSAuk worked closely with the research team to recruit participants to the study and share their knowledge of dwarf conditions and prevalence.

As far as is known, this is the first time, worldwide, that a study of this kind has been undertaken.

Giving you Clear Results

(Sport and Activity Participation Survey)

An overall look at the landscape of sports and activity for people with dwarfism. The survey considers; current activity, future activity, barriers to activity, access and travel to activity, environments and locations of current and future activity, and many other insights into how people with dwarfism participate in sport and activity.

The survey was carried out by DSAuk in 2016 as part of their ongoing review of opportunities for people with dwarfism to be active. Variants of the survey will be repeated in future years as a comparison and to inform the DSAuk 10-yr strategy.

Active Beyond Education?

(Sport and Activity Participation Research)

The research explores young disabled people’s experiences of sport and physical activity during the transition from education to adulthood. The research aims were to:

• Better understand reasons for the decline on disabled people’s participation in sport and physical activity, during the transition from education to adulthood.
• Recommend how to promote and maintain engagement in sport and physical activity amongst young disabled people.

This research was commissioned by DSAuk along with five of the UK’s National Disability Sports Organisations, in partnership with Activity Alliance and supported by Sport England.

Sports activity participation and transition to adulthood for young people with dwarfism and restricted growth – Illustrative Case Studies (Sport and Activity Participation Research)

From the “Active Beyond Education?” research, DSAuk were able to extract several case studies detailing the specific sports and activity experiences of young people with dwarfism as they transitioned from early years education, through secondary, further and higher education into adult life.

A total of seven case studies reveal a trend showing a dip in sports and activity participation at a similar age as young people with dwarfism recount their experiences of sport and activity throughout their time in education and transition to adult life.