Physical activity may help ease fatigue in children with developmental disabilities

by John Pastor, Virginia Tech

edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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Fatigue can be a daily challenge for children with developmental disabilities, affecting participation in school, play and other activities. In a new study by Virginia Tech researchers from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, parents reported that children who were more physically active tended to experience less fatigue.

Published in Behavioral Sciences, the study examined relationships among physical activity, the physical demands of activity and fatigue in children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome compared with typically developing peers. Researchers collected information from both children and their parents through questionnaires focused on daily activity and fatigue.

"Fatigue is something that is not consistently measured across many developmental disabilities, yet it may influence a child's ability or willingness to participate in physical activity," said Stephanie DeLuca, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, director of the institute's Neuromotor Research Clinic and senior author of the study. "Understanding fatigue is important because it may shape how children engage in healthy behaviors that support long-term health."

Parents of children with cerebral palsy also reported that children who spent more time being physically active tended to experience fewer fatigue-related challenges.

Importantly, parents and children separately reported on physical activity and fatigue, allowing researchers to compare how children experienced fatigue with how parents observed it. The approach revealed differences between the two perspectives. Parents of children with disabilities appeared to recognize fatigue more than children themselves.

"One of the reasons we included both parent and child perspectives is that fatigue can be difficult for children to describe and understand," DeLuca said. "Parents often have a broader view of how fatigue affects a child's daily activities. Bringing those perspectives together gives us a more complete understanding of what families are navigating."

The study was led by Kavya Iyer Ph.D. '26 as part of her doctoral dissertation in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program and brought together researchers including DeLuca and Brittany Howell of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Vydia Permashwar, a general pediatrician with Carilion Clinic, and Richard Stevenson, a pediatrician with primary expertise in developmental disabilities at the University of Virginia.

"By bringing together researchers and clinicians with complementary expertise, we were able to better understand how physical activity and fatigue interact and explore ways to improve long-term health outcomes for children with disabilities," said Iyer, who recently completed her doctoral studies and will continue her training as a medical student at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

"The unique interdisciplinary nature of the project blended the scientific perspectives from researchers and the clinical background of various pediatric medical specialists. Our goal is to inform future research and support families, therapists and health care providers working with these children."

More information

Kavya Iyer et al, Understanding Physical Activity Demands and Reported Perceptions of Fatigue in Children with Developmental Disabilities, Behavioral Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.3390/bs16060945

Key medical concepts

FatigueActivities, PhysicalDevelopmental DisabilitiesCerebral PalsyDown Syndrome

Clinical categories

PediatricsChildren's healthFitness & Physical activityNeurology Provided by Virginia Tech Who's behind this story?

Lisa Lock

BA art history, MA material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021. Full profile →

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Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

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