Physical fitness is an important aspect of life for everyone. Taking part in physical activity can improve physical and mental health, and promote general wellbeing.

Major benefits of physical fitness include:

• improved muscle, heart and lung function
• increased energy levels
• improved muscle strength and length, and improved balance
• helping to control weight
• improved ability to fight infections
• improved mood and decreased stress
• improved memory, planning and the ability to do multiple tasks.

For children and young people with CP, there are many ways to incorporate activities into their daily life that will improve their overall fitness. If you would like some advice about how to do this, talk to their healthcare team about helping you to identify the physical activities that best suit their needs and skills level.

A physiotherapist can provide an exercise and fitness program that meets your child or young person’s specific needs and interests. The program may involve formal exercise ideas, as well as advice about how to include physical activity and exercise into everyday life (known as ‘incidental exercise’). This can be especially useful if your child or young person can’t access other recreational activities for any reason.

It’s a good idea to experiment to see which physical activities your child or young person seems to enjoy or shows interest in. It is likely there will be a way to adapt the activity to make it safe and fun for them to participate in.

For example, if your child or young person wants to attend a community gym, it is important that gym staff can develop an individual program, with exercises that are suited to your child or young person’s level of mobility and skills. This will help prevent injury or other long-term problems.

A physiotherapist can work with a personal trainer to tailor and review any gym-based program, to make sure it is appropriate for your child or young person.

There may be community recreation or fitness groups in your area that suit your child or young person’s interests. Activities could include anything from swimming and aquatic activities, and wheelchair sports, to dancing or horseback riding.

An added benefit of participating in community group sporting or exercise activities is that it provides the opportunity for children and young people with CP to connect with others and develop friendships, while improving their physical fitness.

Some of this information is provided and produced courtesy of The Future Thinking Project, Ability WA.