Benefits of Physical Activity for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Research demonstrates substantial health benefits of physical activity (PA), especially moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Several studies suggest that MVPA may be especially beneficial to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) including improved physiological, cognitive, psychological, and behavioral functioning. However, few PA-based interventions have targeted adolescents with ASD, when PA rates are shown to decline significantly, primarily focusing instead on children with ASD. Furthermore, these studies have varied significantly in methodological rigor, making it difficult to disentangle consistent findings of effective intervention. Given that a majority of adolescents with ASD fail to meet national recommendations for daily PA and demonstrate lower rates of PA relative to their nondisabled peers, identifying effective interventions for this population is needed. The purpose of this systematic review was to collect and synthesize evidence from the studies of PA-based interventions for adolescents with ASD (N = 19) to identify benefits of PA and effective strategies for increasing PA in adolescents with ASD. The strongest empirical support for the benefits of PA was identified for self-regulation, health, and motor skills, while evidence remains limited or absent for benefits related to improvements to cognitive, language, and sensorimotor functioning. Highly effective intervention mechanisms identified included prompting, modeling, praise, and structured teaching.