Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in Gymnastics
The practice of physical activity, exercise, and sports brings various benefits to the general population. However, a few intervention programs involving physical activity and sports have been specifically designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The present study aimed to evaluate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/373 |
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| author | Geraldine Quito Miguel Jacinto Nuno Amaro Diogo Monteiro Rui Matos Susana Diz Tânia Mira Raúl Antunes |
| author_facet | Geraldine Quito Miguel Jacinto Nuno Amaro Diogo Monteiro Rui Matos Susana Diz Tânia Mira Raúl Antunes |
| author_sort | Geraldine Quito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The practice of physical activity, exercise, and sports brings various benefits to the general population. However, a few intervention programs involving physical activity and sports have been specifically designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of implementing a sports program based on gymnastics (specifically trampolines) on the motor skills of children with ASD. The program ran from September to May 2024 (8 months duration) using the Motor Competence Assessment Battery (MCA) as an evaluation tool. It included three typically developing children and three children with ASD, all aged between 4 and 5 years. The program sessions lasted 45 min and took place twice a week. The MCA Battery was administered to assess motor skills before and after the intervention. After the intervention program, significant differences were found only between moments in the Shuttle Run test (pre-intervention ≠ and post-intervention; Bonferroni correction: t = −2.00; <i>p</i> = 0.043; w = 0.33). Based on these results, we can conclude that practicing a sports program based on gymnastics (namely trampolines) can contribute to improving the motor skills of children with ASD. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-03f1c25e95c449f4ac972ecff74f2759 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-03f1c25e95c449f4ac972ecff74f27592025-01-10T13:15:20ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-0115137310.3390/app15010373Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in GymnasticsGeraldine Quito0Miguel Jacinto1Nuno Amaro2Diogo Monteiro3Rui Matos4Susana Diz5Tânia Mira6Raúl Antunes7ESECS—Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, PortugalESECS—Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, PortugalESECS—Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, PortugalESECS—Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, PortugalESECS—Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, PortugalESECS—Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, PortugalResearch Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 5000-558 Vila Real, PortugalESECS—Polytechnic University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, PortugalThe practice of physical activity, exercise, and sports brings various benefits to the general population. However, a few intervention programs involving physical activity and sports have been specifically designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of implementing a sports program based on gymnastics (specifically trampolines) on the motor skills of children with ASD. The program ran from September to May 2024 (8 months duration) using the Motor Competence Assessment Battery (MCA) as an evaluation tool. It included three typically developing children and three children with ASD, all aged between 4 and 5 years. The program sessions lasted 45 min and took place twice a week. The MCA Battery was administered to assess motor skills before and after the intervention. After the intervention program, significant differences were found only between moments in the Shuttle Run test (pre-intervention ≠ and post-intervention; Bonferroni correction: t = −2.00; <i>p</i> = 0.043; w = 0.33). Based on these results, we can conclude that practicing a sports program based on gymnastics (namely trampolines) can contribute to improving the motor skills of children with ASD.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/373motor competencesportstrampoline gymnasticsautism spectrum disorder |
| spellingShingle | Geraldine Quito Miguel Jacinto Nuno Amaro Diogo Monteiro Rui Matos Susana Diz Tânia Mira Raúl Antunes Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in Gymnastics Applied Sciences motor competence sports trampoline gymnastics autism spectrum disorder |
| title | Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in Gymnastics |
| title_full | Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in Gymnastics |
| title_fullStr | Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in Gymnastics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in Gymnastics |
| title_short | Motor Competence and Sports Practice in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Study in Gymnastics |
| title_sort | motor competence and sports practice in children with autism spectrum disorder pilot study in gymnastics |
| topic | motor competence sports trampoline gymnastics autism spectrum disorder |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/373 |
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