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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Effects of a family judo program on sleep quality in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Jeanette M Garcia1, Michelle Murray2, Keith Brazendale2
1School of Sport Sciences, College of Applied Human Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a family-based judo program on sleep quality in youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Methods:
Eighteen youth (13.17 years ± 3.76, 78% male) diagnosed with ASD participated in a 14-week family judo program. Sleep quality was assessed using the Actigraph GT9X accelerometer pre- and post-judo intervention. Non-parametric paired t-tests were conducted to examine changes in sleep quality variables.
Results:
There was a significant increase in sleep efficiency (p = .05), and a significant decrease in both sleep latency (p = .001) and wake after sleep onset (p = .02) following participation in the judo program. There were no changes in sleep duration observed in this sample (p = .83).
Conclusion:
Participation in a family judo program may improve sleep quality in youth with ASD. More research is necessary to understand the mechanisms by which judo may improve sleep quality in youth with ASD.
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