Effects of Aquatic Training in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

A variety of aquatic training regimens have been found to be beneficial for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in multiple domains. This study investigated and compared the efficacy of two aquatic training regimens (technical vs. game-based) on gross motor skills, stereotypy behavior and emotion regulation in children with ASD. Twenty-two autistic children were randomly assigned into three groups: two experimental groups performed either a technical aquatic program or a game-based aquatic program and a control group. Participants were assessed before and after an 8-week training period, with the Test of Gross Motor Development, the stereotypy subscale of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Checklist. A significant effect for time was found in gross motor skills and stereotypy behavior in both experimental groups. An improvement in gross motor skills was observed in both experimental groups compared to the control group. A small pre-post change effect in emotion functioning was found in all groups. No significant differences were observed between the experimental groups in all assessed variables. Our findings provide additional evidence suggesting the effectiveness of beneficial effects of aquatic activities on the motor and social skills that underpin the hypothesis that motor and intellectual domains are highly interrelated in autistic children.

Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…According to Table 1, all included studies were conducted between 2012 and 2022. A total of 11 studies used the experimental design of RCTS (Arabi et al, 2019; Bahrami et al, 2012; Bahrami et al, 2016; Chan et al, 2013; Dong et al, 2020; Gabriels et al, 2015; Haghighi et al, 2022; Liu et al, 2021; Marzouki et al, 2022; Movahedi et al, 2013; Najafabadi et al, 2018), Five studies used a quasi‐experimental design (Cai, Wang, et al, 2020; Cai, Yu, et al, 2020; Wang et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2021; Zachor et al, 2017). All studies used formal diagnostic criteria to diagnose ASD in subjects.…”

The effects of aquatic exercise on motor skills and social behaviors in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A Systematic review

“…A variety of aquatic-based training program have been found to be bene cial for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Swimming activities can be effective training for psychomotor skills and can lead to increasing adaptive behaviors and providing opportunities for social interaction for children with ASD (Marzouki, 2022;Battaglia, 2019). Other studies found aquatics programs can have a positive effect on sleep in children with ASD (Oriel, 2016).…”

“…The reasons are primarily a small number of high-quality research in terms of low risk of BIAS and the existence of several experimental and control groups. In this systematic review, only four studies were singled out(Pan, 2011;Fragala-Pinkham et al, 2011; Ansari et al, 2020;Marzouki et al, 2022). Another reason is the contradictory results.…”

The effectiveness of swimming therapy methods on gros motor ability in autistic children

“…Even so, it does not mean that autistic children do not have potential that can be developed. About 20% of the autistic population has average to above average intelligence levels, so therapeutic assistance is needed to optimize their abilities [5]. One of the recommended activities to optimize abilities and support other therapeutic activities is swimming and hiking therapy activities [6].…”