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. 2024 Aug;54(8):2816-2825.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06031-5.

Effects of Physical Exercise on Gross Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Piedad Rocío Lerma Castaño  1 , Diana Paola Montealegre Suárez  2 , Elizabeth Roldán González  3 , Carolina Robledo-Castro  4 , Christian Hederich-Martínez  5   6 , Heidy Paola Garzón Cadena  2 , Paola Andrea Samudio Vargas  2 , Leidy Constanza González Montenegro  2
Affiliations

Effects of Physical Exercise on Gross Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Piedad Rocío Lerma Castaño et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Research shows many positive effects from physical exercise. The present study examined the impact of a structured physical exercise program compared to treatment as usual on the gross motor skills of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants included 20 children, from 4 to 7 years old, who were assigned to two groups; an experimental group (n = 10) who received a structured physical exercise program for 60-min sessions, three times a week for eight weeks, and a control group (n = 10) who received conventional physiotherapy. Gross motor skills were assessed with the Abbreviated Development Scale -3 before and after the physical exercise program. The experimental group exhibited significant improvements in gross motor skills compared to the control group. This study suggests that structured physical exercise programs can improve gross motor skills in children with ASD.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Exercise; Motor skills; Physiotherapy; Specialized physical therapy.

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