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. 2018 Oct;59(5):481-487.
doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2017.12.005. Epub 2018 Jan 6.

The effect of SPARK on social and motor skills of children with autism

Mahboubeh Ghayour Najafabadi  1 , Mahmoud Sheikh  2 , Rasoul Hemayattalab  2 , Amir-Hossein Memari  3 , Maryam Rezaii Aderyani  3 , Sina Hafizi  3
Affiliations
Free article

The effect of SPARK on social and motor skills of children with autism

Mahboubeh Ghayour Najafabadi et al. Pediatr Neonatol. 2018 Oct.
Free article

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a selected group exercise known as Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) on the motor and behavioral skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a quasi-experimental design with repeated measures.

Methods: Twenty-eight children with ASD (age range of 5e12 years) participated in this study. The participants were examined at baseline, pre-test, and post-test using Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), Autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC), and Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-second edition (GARS-2).

Results: The results showed that the SPARK program significantly improved balance (static and dynamic), bilateral coordination and social interaction (p < 0.05) in children with ASD.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the SPARK's training can be considered as a therapeutic option not only for motor enhancement but also for improving social skills in children with ASD.

Keywords: SPARK program; balance; coordination; neurodevelopmental disorders; social interaction.

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