The Effect of Adaptive Physical Activity on the Motor Abilities of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
Gao KuiFeng || Mahlen B. Antonio
Volume 12, Issue 6 2024
Abstract:
Motor skill deficit is prevalent among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), yet it
remains relatively neglected and is not listed as a core symptom or “specifier†in the DSM-5. Given the wide range of
individual differences in symptom presentation, age, and interests among children with ASD, Adaptive Physical
Activity (APA) has shown promise as a physical intervention due to its flexibility, individualization, and specificity.
In view of this, this study, on the basis of identifying the motor ability problems of children with ASD and the effects
of APA on movement disorders in this population, and based on the characteristic that ASD is a neurodevelopmental
disorder, systematically reviewed and analysed the principles of neural control of body postures in children with
ASD and the adaptive matching mechanisms of different sports with children with ASD, and proposed that in the
future, APA should be intensively carried out for children with ASD intervention studies and form specific
guidelines on the principles of intervention and adaptive matching mechanisms. Through these theoretical studies,
our knowledge in these areas can be enhanced to provide a clearer understanding of how these interventions can be
improved in order to develop more effective, individualised APA programmes that provide holistic interventions for
children with ASD that are both scientifically based and practical, and ultimately lead to better outcomes for this
population.
