Effects of Ball Combination Exercise Combined with cTBS Intervention on Sleep Problems in Children with Autism.

Researchers tested three different treatments for sleep problems in 45 autistic children over 12 weeks: ball exercises, brain stimulation (cTBS), or both combined. All treatments helped improve sleep compared to no treatment. The combination of exercise and brain stimulation worked best overall, particularly for reducing anxiety around bedtime. None of the treatments significantly helped with how long it takes children to fall asleep.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated three interventions for sleep problems in 45 children with autism spectrum disorder over 12 weeks: ball combination exercise, continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS), and a combined approach. All three interventions significantly improved sleep problems compared to controls, as measured by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire. The cTBS and combined groups showed significant reductions in overall sleep problems, while the exercise and combined groups demonstrated significant improvements in sleep anxiety. The combined intervention approach showed superior effectiveness compared to single interventions in overall sleep scores and sleep anxiety reduction, though no significant differences were found for sleep-onset delay across groups.

Non-pharmacological interventions, particularly combined approaches, show promise for addressing sleep problems in autistic children. Clinicians should consider multimodal interventions targeting different aspects of sleep dysfunction. Further research needed to optimize intervention protocols and understand mechanisms.

Small sample size (45 participants) limits generalizability. Study methodology details not fully specified in abstract. Long-term sustainability of improvements unclear. Unclear if participants or assessors were blinded to interventions.

Sleep problems significantly affect the quality of life of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week ball combination exercise, continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) stimulation, and combined intervention on sleep problems in children with ASD. Forty-five ASD children were divided into three intervention groups (ball combination exercise(n = 12), cTBS stimulation(n = 10), combined (n = 12) and a control group (n = 11). The intervention groups underwent intervention, while the control group maintained daily activities.

The effects were assessed using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) scale. The results revealed that after 12 weeks of intervention, three programs reduced sleep problems in children with ASD. The post-test scores of the cTBS group (p = 0.002) and the combined group (p < 0.001) were significantly lower than the baseline scores on the CSHQ scale. The exercise group (p = 0.002) and the combined group (p < 0.001) showed significant improvement in sleep anxiety, while there was no statistically significant difference in the effectiveness of the three interventions for sleep-onset delay.

The combined group outperformed the single intervention groups in the CSHQ score and sleep anxiety sub-dimensions. The combined intervention group showed slightly superior performance in sleep onset latency, however, there was no significant difference. Three interventions alleviated sleep issues in ASD children, with the combined method proving more effective. This study validates non-pharmacologic and combined approaches for ASD sleep problems.

Future research should delve deeper into the mechanisms of these interventions in ASD children's sleep improvement.