Comparison of the Effectiveness of Physical Activity on Improving ‎Walking in People with Autism and Mental Retardation

Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 1435-SSRC
Authors
گروه آسیب شناسی ورزشی و حرکات اصلاحی، دانشکده تربیت بدنی گیلان
Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) has been shown to have a range of ‎benefits for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and mental ‎retardation (MR), including improved physical fitness, reduced symptoms ‎of anxiety and depression, and enhanced social interaction. This ‎systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness ‎of various PA interventions in improving walking in individuals with ‎ASD and MR‏.‏
Methods‏:‏‎ We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, ‎CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for studies published between ‎January 2000, and December, 2023.Studies were included if they were ‎randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) ‎that compared the effects of any PA intervention on walking ability in ‎individuals with ASD and MR aged 5 years or older. Studies were ‎excluded if they were not RCTs or CCTs, did not report on walking ‎outcomes, or included participants with other developmental disabilities ‎or neurological conditions‏.‏
Results: A total of 21 RCTs and CCTs met the inclusion criteria. The ‎studies included participants with ASD or MR with a wide range of ‎walking impairments, from mild to severe. The majority of studies used ‎aerobic exercise interventions, such as treadmill walking, cycling, or group ‎fitness classes. However, a few studies also evaluated strength training, ‎aquatic exercise, and dance interventions‏.‏The meta-analysis found that PA ‎interventions were significantly more effective than no intervention in ‎improving walking ability in individuals with ASD and MR (weighted ‎mean difference [WMD] = 0.32 meters per second, 95% confidence ‎interval [CI] = 0.24 to 0.40; P < .001). The effect size was moderate ‎‎(Hedges' g = 0.59)‎‏.‏
Discussion: Our findings provide strong evidence that PA interventions ‎can improve walking ability in individuals with ASD and MR. PA ‎interventions may have a positive impact on other aspects of health in ‎individuals with ASD and MR‏.‏
Conclusion‏:‏‎ PA interventions are a promising approach for improving ‎walking ability in individuals with ASD and MR.the current findings ‎suggest that PA can be a valuable tool for promoting physical and ‎functional independence in individuals with ASD and MR‏.‏
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