Dynamic balance improvement in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder after an extracurricular Service-Learning Physical Education program

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the acute changes in dynamic balance Postural Control experienced by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who undertook a 6-month extracurricular Service-Learning Physical Education (PE) program. The study used a quasiexperimental design with 23 participants divided into an experimental group and a control group. Limits of Stability protocol was used to measure the children's postural control. The results showed that the experimental group achieved statistically significant improvements.To conclude, this study provides substantial input about how extracurricular PE activities aimed at developing the general motor proficiency of ASD children can improve their dynamic balance.

Intervention Based on Psychomotor Rehabilitation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD: Effect on Postural Control and Sensory Integration

“…All these segments seem to be related to the achieved result, considering that psychomotor rehabilitation involves non-competitive games and sport-related movements with a focus on individuals’ body, spatial, and temporal sensory-processing competence [ 55 ]. Despite the relationship between improved postural balance and other physical performance enhancements in ASD children [ 56 ], the measurements of the present study do not assess the target skills and performances promoted in the rehabilitation training.…”

Community‐based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals

“…Young preschool or school‐aged children may benefit from both physical therapy and naturalistic opportunities for motor learning focused on building robust internal models of postural control, including recreational activities and sport (Ajzenman et al, 2013; Kim et al, 2016; Salvador‐Garcia et al, 2022). In contrast, adolescents, young adults, and older adults may need interventions focused on explicitly teaching strategies for engaging in more effective sensory reweighting.…”

“…A person's limit of stability, or the distance that they are able to move their center of mass outside of their base of support without taking a compensatory step to regain balance, impacts their ability to perform functional movements. Dynamic postural control has been identified as a strong predictor of fall risk across multiple populations (Holbein-Jenny et al, 2007;Sun, Hseih, & Sosnoff, 2019;Swanenburg et al, 2010), and difficulty engaging in well-controlled weight shifts has been implicated as a precursor of falling events (Robinovitch et al, 2013). Prior literature suggests that the neuromotor mechanisms of dynamic postural control differ from those of static postural control, and that dynamic instability may be a stronger driver of injury (e.g., Granacher & Gollhofer, 2011).…”

“…While static postural stability is an important buildingblock skill for development of other motor abilities, dynamic postural control is a stronger predictor of fall risk and functional mobility (Holbein-Jenny et al, 2007;Le Mouel & Brette, 2017;Robinovitch et al, 2013). Thus, it is necessary to assess both static and dynamic stability in order to fully understand the nature of postural control in autism.…”