New Guidelines Launched To Help Disabled Children Be More Active

The UK Chief Medical Officers have, for the first time, published guidelines to help disabled children and young people become more physically active, underpinned by research from Durham University, the University of Bristol and Disabilities Rights UK.

Recommendations include undertaking 120 to 180 minutes of aerobic activity a week at a moderate to vigorous intensity, as well as completing challenging but manageable strength and balance activities three times a week. This could include yoga, indoor wall climbing or modified sports like football or basketball.

Other advice includes building up slowly when first starting to exercise in order to avoid injury and breaking down exercise into bite-size chunks of physical activity throughout the day so it feels more manageable.

Regular physical activity has both physical and mental health benefits, but specific benefits that disabled children and young people will gain include meeting new people, improved confidence and concentration, stronger muscles and improved motor strength.

CEO of Disability Rights UK Kamran Mallick said: “This is an essential resource to demonstrate the health benefits disabled children and young people can achieve through regular physical activity.

“Disabled people have a right to get active in ways that work for them, and these guidelines show how important this is. The evidence-based infographic is not only a highlight of the project but a positive example of co-production in practice.”

There are also guidelines available for physical activity among adults and older adults, with at least 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise per week, such as running, playing sport and taking the stairs. Advice also includes minimising sedentary time and breaking up any periods of inactivity.

 

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