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Meta-Analysis
. 2019 Aug;49(8):3290-3308.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-04050-9.

Efficacy of Group-Based Organised Physical Activity Participation for Social Outcomes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Katherine Howells  1 , Carmel Sivaratnam  2 , Tamara May  2 , Ebony Lindor  2 , Jane McGillivray  2 , Nicole Rinehart  2   3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Efficacy of Group-Based Organised Physical Activity Participation for Social Outcomes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Katherine Howells et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Aug.

Abstract

The aim of this novel review and meta-analysis was to clarify the effects of group-based organised physical activity (OPA) for social and communicative outcomes in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Searches yielded 4347 articles. Eleven were identified for review and seven for meta-analysis. Pooled statistical results revealed a non-significant effect for communication (k = 4; g = 0.13, CI [- 0.12, 0.38], p = .13) and a significant small-medium improvement in overall social functioning (k = 6; g = 0.45, CI [0.19, 0.72], p = .001). Despite acknowledged limitations, these findings are important in the context of a growing clinical and consumer-driven demand for research that determines the role of OPA as a non-medical and inclusive treatment for children with ASD.

Keywords: ASD; Autism spectrum disorder; Group-based; Meta analysis; Organised physical activity; Social functioning.

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