Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Patterns of Participation in Daily Physical and Play Activities

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) indicates several neurodevelopmental impairments which may end in impairments in motor or physical activities. Daily physical activity involvement was investigated in a total of 83 children (52 boys and 31 girls) with ASD aged 6–15 years. Results indicated that only 10 (12%) of children with ASD were physically active. Children were predominantly engaged in solitary play rather than social play activities. Gender, family income, and household structure were found to be associated with activity scores. Financial burden and lack of opportunities were noted as the leading barriers to physical activities. In conclusion, findings indicated a low rate of physical activity participation in children with ASD that is closely associated with sociodemographic variables.

Physical Activity Levels, Frequency, and Type Among Adolescents with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…The most current evidence indicates that children and adolescents with ASD are not sufficiently active and fall short of meeting the Center for Disease Control's Physical Activity Guidelines (Bandini et al, 2013; Obrusnikova & Cavalier, 2011; Memari et al., 2015; McDonald, Esposito & Ulrich, 2011). Several studies have found that youth with ASD are less physically active than their typically developing (TD) peers (McCoy, Jakicic, & Gibbs, 2016; Pan et al.…”

Effects of physical activity on debilitating behaviours in 13- to 20-year-old males with severe autism spectrum disorder

“…It would be beneficial to carry out further research into this area using a neuro typical control group of participants who do not attend the weekly “Monday Club” sessions, to compare the scores of physical activity between the two groups (Memari et al, 2015) and to further test the GARS-3 measure which has shown to be sensitive to changes in ASD severity over time.…”

DIAUTIS: A Fuzzy and Affective Multi-agent Platform for the Diagnosis of Autism

“…As first ASD symptoms [37,38] that should be verified are the following: the child does not present pronounced smiles or other happiness expressions at the age of six months; at the age of nine months, the child shares neither sounds, smiles, nor other facial gestures; continuing at about twelve, with the absence of chatters and of concrete gestures like greeting, indicating or showing. At the age of sixteen months, he does not articulate words and at twenty-four, he is unable to formulate phrases of two words that have meaning if they are not for pure repetition [39]. This process presents, without any doubt, enough variants, both in the present symptoms and in its appearance, therefore, its detection and follow-up are important.…”