Efficacy of physiotherapy with occupational and speech therapy for improving physical & behavioral status among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): an assessor blinded randomized clinical trial.

Researchers studied whether combining physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy helps children with autism. They worked with 70 children for six weeks and measured improvements in physical abilities and behavior. Children who received the combined therapies showed significant improvements in both areas, while those who didn't receive the treatment showed no meaningful changes. This suggests that using multiple therapies together may be more helpful than single approaches for children with autism.

This assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial examined the effectiveness of combined physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy interventions for 70 children with autism spectrum disorder in Bangladesh. The study compared outcomes between two groups over six weeks using the modified SF-36 for physical status and GARS-3 for behavioral assessment. Results showed significant improvements in both physical and behavioral outcomes in the intervention group (Group A) with p-values < 0.01, while the control group (Group B) showed no statistically significant changes. Between-group comparisons also demonstrated significant differences favoring the combined therapy approach, suggesting this multidisciplinary intervention model may be effective for improving physical and behavioral outcomes in children with ASD.

Results support implementing multidisciplinary therapy approaches combining physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy for children with ASD. The significant improvements in both physical and behavioral domains suggest coordinated care may be more effective than isolated interventions, warranting consideration in NDIS planning and clinical practice guidelines.

The study duration was only six weeks, which may not capture long-term effects. Sample size details are not clearly reported. The study was conducted in a single location in Bangladesh, potentially limiting generalizability to other populations and healthcare settings.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by physical, communication, and behavioral challenges that often require comprehensive interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the combined efficacy of physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapies in improving physical and behavioral outcomes among children with ASD. This assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted at Proyash (Institute of Special Education), Jashore, Bangladesh, involving seventy children with ASD. Outcomes were assessed using the modified SF-36 for physical status and GARS-3 for behavioral status at baseline and after six weeks of intervention.

Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with descriptive statistics (median and IQR) and inferential tests (Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank), maintaining a 95% confidence level. The average age of participants was 10.66 ± 3.28 years in Group A and 9.17 ± 2.83 years in Group B. Group A had a higher BMI of 21.86 ± 7.96 kg/m² compared to 19.53 ± 4.85 kg/m² in Group B. Post-intervention analysis revealed significant improvements in both physical and behavioral outcomes.

Between-group comparisons yielded p-values < 0.01 for both measures. Within-group analysis showed significant improvements in Group A (p < 0.01), whereas changes in Group B were not statistically significant. The combined rehabilitation program demonstrated significant improvements in physical and behavioral outcomes and showing greater effectiveness overall. These findings emphasize the importance of customized rehabilitation approaches in enhancing both physical and behavioral health, particularly when tailored to specific participant profiles.

CTRI/2024/07/070209 (Prospectively Registered).