title: Physical activity and physical fitness of school-aged children and youth with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social communication deficits and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities. Literature comparing the physical activity and fitness of children with ASD to typically developing peers is in need of attention. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the physical activity and fitness of school-aged children with ASD (N = 17) in comparison to typically developing peers (N = 12). Participants with ASD completed diagnostic and developmental assessments and a series of physical fitness assessments: 20-meter multistage shuttle, sit-and-reach test, handgrip strength, and body mass index. Physical activity was measured using accelerometry and preestablished cut-points of physical activity (Freedson et al., 2005). MANCOVA revealed significant between-group effects in strength (P = .03), while ANCOVA revealed significant between-group effects in sedentary (P = .00), light (P = .00), moderate (P = .00), and total moderate-to-vigorous (P = .01) physical activity. Children with ASD are less physically active and fit than typically developing peers. Adapted physical activity programs are one avenue with intervention potential to combat these lower levels of physical activity and fitness found in children with ASD.
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
authors.forename: Kiley
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5005-4061
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6909-2247
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: School of Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1607-4181
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Menear