Author(s): LAURENTI, F., PRESTA, V., COMPIANI, M., GODIO, M., SEVERINI, F., GUARNIERI, A., MAZZEI, S., CONDELLO, G., GOBBI, G., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF VERONA, Country: ITALY, Abstract-ID: 2584

INTRODUCTION:
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often exhibit motor impairments and high sedentary behavior, limiting independence, social participation, and physical and cognitive development [1]. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of a targeted, extra-curricular training program on motor coordination and overall functioning in children with ASD.
METHODS:
Fifty primary school children with ASD (ages 9.1±1.7 years; 8 females) participated in a six-month training program. Each participant self-selected one of the available sport programs among situational sports (i.e., basketball, soccer, volley, and martial arts), individual sports (i.e., athletics, climbing, skating, gymnastics), water-based sport (i.e., swimming), and unstructured sport. Pre- and post-intervention measurements included: total reaction time using a simple (by identifying the targeted stimulus) and complex (by discriminating the targeted stimulus among confounding stimuli) reactive test, transferring pennies, jumping in place-same sides synchronized, tapping feet and fingers-same side synchronized [2], and the Flamingo test [3]. Due to the no normal distribution of data, non-parametric statistics was applied. Moreover, the comparison among training programs was not feasible due to the heterogeneity among the selected activities.
RESULTS:
The analysis of the overall sample showed a significant reduction in total time for the simple (pre: 9.5±6.7 s; post: 7.9±3.5 s; p=0.002; effect size [ES]=0.45) and complex reactive test (pre: 11.3±5.1 s; post: 10.6±5.3 s; p=0.001; ES=0.48). Moreover, tapping feet and fingers (right side) significantly increased (p=0.024; ES=0.33) before (4.2±3.5 pt.) and after (6±3.5 pt.) the training program, as well as transferring pennies (pre: 6.3±4 pt.; post: 7.7±4 pt.; p=0.001; ES=0.47). Jumping in place-same sides synchronized and Flamingo test did not show significant improvements.
CONCLUSION:
The current study demonstrated that the participation in a training program, characterized by different sport disciplines and modalities, can provide a beneficial impact on different domains of motor coordination. Specifically, reaction tests, transferring pennies test, and tapping feet and fingers test demonstrated progress after the six-month training period. Different sport programs appear equally effective, indicating that diverse sport modalities may support motor and functional improvements in this population.

References: 1. Bhat (2021); 2. Bruininks et al. (2005) 3. Cilia et al. (1995).