Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Exhibit Elevated Physical Activity and Reduced Sedentary Behavior

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Previous research indicates conflicting reports on physical activity (PA) levels in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Lower physical activity levels are often presumed in ASD, necessitating further investigation.
• Accurate PA assessment is vital for developing targeted interventions to improve health-related fitness in ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare physical activity levels between children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children.
• To identify differences in light, moderate, and vigorous activity between the two groups.
• To explore potential links between ASD characteristics and observed PA patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized ActiGraph monitors (GT3X+) for objective measurement of PA and sedentary behavior.
• Included 21 children with ASD (mean age 6.43 ± 2.29 years) and 30 TD children (mean age 7.2 ± 3.14 years).
• Analyzed differences in light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity counts between groups.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in light and moderate activity counts between children with ASD and TD children.
• Children with ASD exhibited significantly higher vigorous physical activity compared to TD children.
• Higher vigorous PA in ASD was potentially attributed to characteristic stereotypy and self-stimulating behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with ASD demonstrate higher levels of vigorous physical activity than their TD peers.
• This finding may be associated with ASD-related behaviors and warrants further exploration into neurobiological factors like altered neurochemistry, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation.
• This study enhances understanding of PA participation in individuals with ASD, informing future intervention strategies.