The Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Sports Stars Brazil in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Researchers tested a sports program called Sports Stars Brazil with 18 teenagers with autism. The program involved 8 weekly group sessions playing Brazilian sports like soccer and basketball, focusing on movement skills and social interaction. Almost all teens completed the program and were satisfied with it. The program showed improvements in fitness, movement skills, and participation in activities.

However, this was a small study, so larger research is needed to confirm these positive results.

This feasibility study evaluated Sports Stars Brazil, a modified sports intervention for 18 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The 8-week program consisted of weekly group sessions combining gross motor activities with social skill development through popular Brazilian sports. The study demonstrated high feasibility with 94.4% completion rate and strong participant satisfaction. Preliminary effectiveness results showed statistically significant improvements in anaerobic capacity, physical literacy, object control skills, and locomotion abilities.

Participants also demonstrated favorable effects on achieving activity and participation goals. However, other measured outcomes did not show significant differences. The researchers conclude that while feasible and showing promise, a full clinical trial is needed to confirm these preliminary positive effects.

Sports Stars Brazil shows promise as a feasible intervention for improving physical skills and participation in autistic adolescents. Clinicians may consider incorporating structured sports activities into therapy programs. However, larger controlled trials are needed before widespread implementation. The high completion rate suggests good acceptability for this population.

Small sample size (n=18) limits generalizability. Quasi-experimental design without control group reduces confidence in attributing changes to the intervention. Short-term follow-up prevents assessment of sustained effects. Limited outcome measures may not capture full intervention impact.

To investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the Sports Stars Brazil intervention in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This was a feasibility study, quasi-experimental in nature, involving 18 adolescents with ASD. All participants received a modified sports intervention (Sports Stars Brazil), which encompassed eight weekly group sessions. Each session included one hour of gross motor activity focused on sports and social skill development, centered around popular sports in Brazil, such as soccer, handball, basketball, and athletics.

The primary outcomes included the following feasibility measures: recruitment rate, adherence rate, satisfaction/acceptability, and adverse effects. Seventeen adolescents (94.4%) completed the intervention program. High adherence and participant satisfaction were observed. The study also showed improvements in anaerobic capacity ( < 0.001), physical literacy ( = 0.001), object control ( = 0.004), and locomotion ( = 0.005), as well as preliminary favorable effects on the achievement of activity and participation goals ( < 0.001).

However, no statistically significant differences were found in the other analyzed outcomes ( > 0.05). Sports Stars Brazil is feasible, and preliminary evidence exists for its positive effect on participation, fitness, and physical literacy in adolescents with ASD. A future clinical trial is warranted to confirm these results.