title: The effects of aerobic exercise on academic engagement in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether participation in aerobic exercise before classroom activities improves academic engagement and reduces stereotypic behaviors in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study employed a within-subjects crossover design, using a treatment condition (aerobic exercise) and a control condition, across 4 classrooms. The treatment condition included 15 minutes of running/jogging followed by a classroom task. The control condition included a classroom task not preceded by exercise. The number of stereotypic behaviors, percentage of on-task behavior, and correct/incorrect responses were measured. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare differences between conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant improvements were found in correct responding following exercise (P < .05). No significant differences were found for on-task behavior or stereotypic behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with findings in older children, these results indicate that aerobic exercise prior to classroom activities may improve academic responding in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pennsylvania 17003, USA. oriel@lvc.edu
authors.forename: Kathryn N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Oriel
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peckus
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semon
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording