Benefits of Supporting Physical Activity

Helping your organization share information about the benefits of physical activity for children with disabilities.

A child with a disability playing sledge hockey.

Image: A child with a disability on the ice playing sledge hockey, in their equipment.

Physical activity refers to any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure and increases heart rate and breathing.

Why is this important? Evidence suggests that when families receive information about the benefits of physical activity for children and youth with disabilities then they are more motivated to support their children to be active.

There are many benefits that children and youth with a disability can experience by engaging in regular physical activity. Some organizations have had difficulty finding evidence-based information about these benefits which makes it challenging for organizations to share this information with families.

In this resource you can find three categories of evidence-based content regarding the benefits of physical activity for children and youth with disabilities:

  1. Physical Health Benefits
  2. Social & Emotional Health Benefits
  3. Overall Well-being

How to use this guide: We’ve provided some of the many benefits associated with physical activity participation. There are also example messages that your organization can use on social media or websites to communicate this evidence-based information with families.

Download our accessible PDF version! Link re-directs to a preview (new tab) to download from.

Benefits of Supporting PA (PDF)

Physical Health Benefits

Physical activity can enhance children with disabilities’ physical fitness, strength, and endurance, while reducing their sedentary time, and improve their sleep quality.

Give kids a boost! Taking part in physical activity can help enhance fitness and endurance, reduce time spent being sedentary, and improve sleep quality for children with a disability.

Physical activity can reduce the risk of experiencing secondary health conditions associated with some disabilities.

Move today for a better tomorrow! Children’s participation in physical activity may help to reduce the risk of secondary health conditions associated with having a disability, along with other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, obesity, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure.

Physical activity can reduce the risk of experiencing secondary health conditions associated with some disabilities.

Move today for a better tomorrow! Children’s participation in physical activity may help to reduce the risk of secondary health conditions associated with having a disability, along with other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, obesity, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure.

For some children with disabilities, physical activity may relieve muscle tightness and enhance flexibility.

Stretch your abilities! Partaking in physical activity can enhance flexibility, posture, balance, and relieve muscle tightness for children with a disability.

Physical activity may boost children with disabilities’ mood, feelings of happiness, and endorphin levels.

Feel better, inside and out! Engaging in physical activity can help boost feelings of happiness and endorphin levels. This can also complement treatment for anxiety or depression that children with disabilities may be receiving.

Social & Emotional Health Benefits

Physical activity enables socialization opportunities for children with disabilities to meet new people, build friendships, and have positive role models.

Meet new people and make friends! Physical activity provides an opportunity for children with disabilities to socialize, meet new people, build friendships, and have positive role models.

Physical activity facilitates learning experiences for children with disabilities that encourages positive values with being part of a team.

Physical activity doesn’t have to be done alone. There are many learning experiences and opportunities for social interaction that go hand-in-hand with physical activity. Physical activity can encourage positive values associated with being part of a team, as well as strengthen social skills for children with disabilities.

Physical activity can raise children with disabilities’ confidence in their abilities and skills.

Physical activity can boost self-esteem, body image, and self-concept, in addition to raising their confidence in their skills and abilities.

Physical activity can lead to a sense of empowerment, mastery, and accomplishment for children with disabilities.

New skill, new me. As children with a disability participate in physical activity, they can cultivate a sense of empowerment, mastery, and accomplishment as they learn new skills.

Physical activity can offer fun, enjoyable, and meaningful experiences for children with disabilities, and an opportunity to discover new things.

Focus on enjoying the movement. Physical activity can create fun, enjoyable and meaningful experiences, while also providing children with disabilities with opportunities to discover and try new things.

Overall Well-being

For families of children with disabilities, physical activity engagement can provide opportunities to socialize with other families and offer and outlet for quality time and improved connection. When children participate in physical activity programs without their parents, it can also free up time and allow parents to take a break.

By supporting your child with a disability, you are taking care of yourself! Your child’s physical activity engagement can offer a range of benefits to you and your family, including family friendships, improved mood, and family connectedness.

Physical activity establishes positive behaviours and patterns for children with disabilities early on, leading to a healthier adulthood.

Start now, benefit later. If children with disabilities establish positive physical activity habits from a young age, they will be more likely to maintain this pattern throughout their life, leading to a healthier adulthood.

Physical activity positively influences psychological, emotional, learning, and intellectual development for children with disabilities.

Build skills for the future! Physical activity engagement will provide opportunities for children with disabilities to improve their social, interpersonal and leadership skills. Engaging in physical activity can equip children with important life skills including self-discipline, responsibility, time management, and work ethic.

Physical activity can improve children with disabilities’ quality of life and life satisfaction.

Improve children’s quality of life. When children with a disability participate in physical activity, they are likely to experience greater quality of life and life satisfaction.