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A Randomised Control Trial of the Impact of a Computer-Based Activity Programme upon the Fitness of Children with
Kathleen Dickinson1, Maurice Place1
1School of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Coach Lane Campus, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK.
Insights
Computer-based games like the Nintendo Wii significantly improved fitness in children with autism. This intervention enhanced cardiopulmonary function and body mass index, offering a valuable addition to standard physical education.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit lower physical fitness levels, raising concerns about long-term health outcomes.
- Cardiopulmonary function and body mass index (BMI) are key indicators of physical health that may be impacted in this population.
- There is a need for effective interventions to improve fitness in children with ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a computer-based activity program in enhancing the physical fitness of children with autism.
- To determine if this intervention could lead to improvements in cardiopulmonary function and a reduction in body mass index.
- To assess the impact of a Nintendo Wii-based program on fitness metrics in children with ASD.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 100 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
- The intervention group (n=50) used the Nintendo Wii software "Mario and Sonics at the Olympics" alongside routine physical education.
- The control group (n=50) continued with their standard physical education classes. Fitness was assessed using Eurofit tests over one year, with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) applied.
Main Results:
- The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in most Eurofit fitness tests compared to the control group.
- Improvements were noted in cardiopulmonary function and other fitness measures, excluding flexibility.
- The computer-based intervention showed significantly greater benefits than standard physical education alone.
Conclusions:
- Computer-based activity programs, such as using the Nintendo Wii, can be an effective strategy to improve physical fitness in children with autism spectrum disorder.
- This intervention serves as a valuable supplement to traditional fitness training, positively impacting key health indicators.
- The findings suggest that integrating exergaming into physical education can help mitigate health risks associated with poor fitness in children with ASD.
Abstract:
The poor levels of fitness in children with autism are prompting concern for the children's future health. This study looked to assess if a computer-based activity programme could improve fitness levels (as reflected in cardiopulmonary function) of these children, and achieve a reduction in their body mass index. In a randomised controlled trial, 50 children with autism (of which 33 were under the age of 11 years and 39 were boys) were allocated to an intervention group which encouraged them to use the Nintendo Wii and the software package "Mario and Sonics at the Olympics" in addition to their routine physical education classes. 50 children with autism (34 under the age of 11 years and 40 being boys) acted as controls. At the end of one year, analysis of the changes in scores using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) on the Eurofit fitness tests showed that the intervention group had made statistically significant improvement on all tests other than flexibility. These improvements were also significantly better than controls. This type of intervention appears to be an effective addition to standard fitness training in order to help children with autism improve their fitness levels.
