Mahboubeh Ghayour Najafabadi1, Mahmoud Sheikh2, Rasoul Hemayattalab2, Amir-Hossein Memari3, Maryam Rezaii Aderyani3, Sina Hafizi3. 1. Department of Motor Behaviour, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: M.ghayournaj@ut.ac.ir. 2. Department of Motor Behaviour, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 3. Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a selected group exercise known as Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) on the motor and behavioral skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a quasi-experimental design with repeated measures. METHODS: Twenty-eight children with ASD (age range of 5e12 years) participated in this study. The participants were examined at baseline, pre-test, and post-test using Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), Autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC), and Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-second edition (GARS-2). RESULTS: The results showed that the SPARK program significantly improved balance (static and dynamic), bilateral coordination and social interaction (p < 0.05) in children with ASD. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the SPARK's training can be considered as a therapeutic option not only for motor enhancement but also for improving social skills in children with ASD.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a selected group exercise known as Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) on the motor and behavioral skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a quasi-experimental design with repeated measures. METHODS: Twenty-eight children with ASD (age range of 5e12 years) participated in this study. The participants were examined at baseline, pre-test, and post-test using Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), Autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC), and Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-second edition (GARS-2). RESULTS: The results showed that the SPARK program significantly improved balance (static and dynamic), bilateral coordination and social interaction (p < 0.05) in children with ASD. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the SPARK's training can be considered as a therapeutic option not only for motor enhancement but also for improving social skills in children with ASD.