Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC | Virginia Tech Health & Biomedical Research

_{July 6, 2026}

Physical activity may help ease fatigue in children with developmental disabilitiese

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.”