The impact of physical activities on physical literacy and cognitive performance of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Researchers studied 30 children with autism aged 8-12 to see if physical activities could help them. Half the children did 24 sessions of games and sports over 70 days, while the other half didn't. The children who did the activities showed better physical skills and fitness compared to those who didn't. However, thinking skills didn't improve significantly. This suggests regular physical activities can help autistic children develop better movement and fitness abilities.

This semi-experimental study examined the effects of a structured physical activity program on physical literacy and cognitive performance in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 8-12 years. Thirty children from Mazandaran province educational centers were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. The experimental group completed a 24-session program (60 minutes each, over 70 days) based on Horwitz and Sissel's approach, incorporating reinforcement, games, and sports activities. Physical literacy was assessed using CAPL-2 and cognitive performance via Tower of London test.

Results showed significant improvements in physical literacy for the experimental group compared to controls (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in cognitive performance measures between groups. The study suggests physical activities can effectively improve physical literacy in children with ASD when integrated into daily schedules.

Physical activity interventions show promise for improving physical literacy in children with ASD. Programs should incorporate structured activities with reinforcement and game-based elements. However, expectations for cognitive improvements should be managed, as benefits appear domain-specific to physical skills rather than broader cognitive function.

Small sample size (n=30) limits generalizability. Single geographic location reduces external validity. Abstract lacks details about randomization quality, blinding procedures, and effect sizes. No information provided about participant dropout rates or intervention fidelity measures.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most severe childhood disorders and every child with this disorder has a unique situation in terms of strengths or challenges in cognitive, motor, emotional and social fields. This study is semi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design and a control group. The statistical population in this research included all (ASD) from 8 to 12 years old in the educational centers for children with this disorder in Mazandaran province in 2024. Random sampling method was applied to select the target sample, based on which 30 children with autism spectrum disorders were selected for this study.

The training program was taken from Horwitz and Sissel (Horwitz R), which includes reinforcement, games, and sports activities for children, performed by the experimental group for 24 sessions (60 min each session and for 70 days). Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy - Second Edition (CAPL-2) was employed to assess physical literacy and Tower of London test for cognitive performance. The data were analyzed by multivariate covariance method. The obtained results indicated that for the total physical literacy, the results of the post-hoc-test for the main effect of Practice intervention showed that the experimental group is significantly different from control group, all p < 0.05.

Means comparisons showed that the experimental group resulted in higher physical literacy than control group. Also time test (reaction time) from the series of tests of the tower of London (Cognitive Performance) no significant differences two groups in the pre-test (F > 1), confirming that the two groups did not differ before training. Therefore, it can be concluded that performing physical activities as an essential and main part of the daily schedule of these children can provide effective consequences in improving their cognitive performance and physical literacy.