07/04/2026
Ottawa, Ontario — Tuesday April 7, 2026
Youth with medical conditions or disabilities are less likely to meet physical activity guidelines. Fear of pain, symptoms, or physical limitations can reduce confidence and make activity feel out of reach, even when children want to participate.
A clinical study led by Hana Alazem examined whether a 12-week program focused on skill building, group games, and education, could build confidence and help youth with medical conditions change this pattern.
“For so many of these kids, inactivity isn’t about motivation, it’s about feeling unsure or unsafe in participating.” said Dr. Alazem. “By building their confidence directly, we open the door to more independence and healthier movement, even when medical needs are part of daily life.”
The randomized trial followed youth aged 8 to 18 receiving care through tertiary pediatric clinics, and offered the program both in-person or virtually. Youth who attended the in-person program showed higher activity confidence after three months, and greater confidence was linked to more physical activity and less sedentary time. The virtual format had less impact – highlighting the involvement of peers to learn and practice new skills together.
For this research, Hana received the 2025 Noni MacDonald Award from the Canadian Paediatric Society, shifting the view of inactivity as a fixed limitation to a modifiable challenge, and providing practical, low-cost guidance for clinics, schools, and community settings to support healthier movement for youth with medical needs.