Sport and Autism: What Do We Know so Far? A Review

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Sports Science
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by social, communication, and behavioral challenges.
• Motor disorders are increasingly recognized as significant in ASD.
• Research indicates positive outcomes for autistic individuals participating in sports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive literature review on the effects of sports interventions for individuals with ASD.
• To identify characteristics of ASD positively impacted by sports.
• To extract general and practical recommendations for sport participation in ASD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search conducted across two databases.
• Inclusion criteria focused on longitudinal studies with pre-to-post analyses of sport/physical activity programs.
• 92 articles were included from an initial pool of 1665.

Main Results:

• Sport interventions positively impact a wide range of physical, psychological, and social factors in individuals with ASD.
• No activity is fully contraindicated, though some require specific preparation.
• Different sport configurations (individual/collective, indoor/outdoor) may offer varied suitability and benefits.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with autism spectrum disorder can benefit substantially from sports participation.
• Further research is necessary to optimize sport program strategies for maximizing benefits.
• Personalized approaches to sport interventions are key for individuals across the autism spectrum.