Effect of a Motor Support Program in Children With Autism

Istanbul Aydın University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments: Other: Motor Support Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07321561

IUC-SBBEK-2024-143

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examined a motor support program applied for 40 minutes, two days per week, over a period of 12 weeks in children aged 4-6 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A total of 28 children with autism spectrum disorder participated in the study, including 14 children in the experimental group and 14 children in the control group. In addition to their regular special education sessions, participants in the experimental group received the motor support program for 40 minutes, two days per week, for 12 weeks. Data collection instruments included the Gilliam Autistic Disorder Rating Scale-Second Edition, Turkish Version (GARS-2-TV), the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, Short Form (BOT-2) for the assessment of gross motor skills, and the caregiver-completed Sensory Profile Questionnaire for the assessment of sensory-motor skills.

Full description

This study is a quasi-experimental research design including pretest-posttest experimental and control groups, and one of the previously determined groups was randomly assigned as the experimental group and the other as the control group. The study was conducted with a total of 28 children, including 14 children in the control group (CG) and 14 children in the experimental group (EG), aged between 4 and 6 years, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, who were continuing their education in special education and rehabilitation centers located in the Bayrampaşa and Esenyurt districts of Istanbul. The number of participants was determined using G*Power analysis, with a statistical power of 0.80, an effect size of 0.05, and a margin of error of 0.05. The inclusion criteria were defined as being between the ages of 4 and 6 years, having a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, having no additional intellectual disability, and having no health condition that would prevent participation in physical activity. Data collection instruments included the Gilliam Autistic Disorder Rating Scale-Second Edition, Turkish Version (GARS-2-TV), the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, Short Form (BOT-2) for the assessment of gross motor skills, and the caregiver-completed Sensory Profile Questionnaire for the assessment of sensory-motor skills. The BOT-2 Short Form was administered in approximately 20-25 minutes per child. The GARS-2-TV, administered through interviews with caregivers, was completed in approximately 25-30 minutes per child. The Sensory Profile Questionnaire was completed by caregivers in approximately 30-35 minutes per child. As the GARS-2-TV requires certification for administration, the required training and certification were obtained by the evaluator.The motor support program (MSP) consisted of activities prepared in accordance with test protocols to support children's gross motor skills (e.g., throwing, jumping, catching, running) and sensory-motor skills (e.g., sensory modulation, sensory processing, and movement-related sensory input). The MSP was implemented for 60 minutes per session, two days per week, over a period of 12 weeks at the special education centers attended by the participants. A structured program was applied during the first 10 weeks, and during the final 2 weeks, a "choose-your-activity" approach was implemented, in which children selected activities from those applied during the previous weeks. Within each session, at least three different game-based activity formats targeting gross motor and sensory-motor skills were implemented. In subsequent weeks, different game formats were included to address multiple developmental domains.

Enrollment: 43 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 6 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being between 4 and 6 years of age
• Having no health problems that would prevent participation in the study
• Having been diagnosed with autism according to the Health Board and Guidance and Research Center (RAM) report
• Not having previously participated in any motor-supported education programs (e.g., occupational therapy sessions)
• Having no additional diagnoses related to physical or intellectual disabilities other than autism spectrum disorder

Exclusion criteria

• The participant's failure to attend the training program for three consecutive sessions
• The participant's failure to fulfill the assigned responsibilities
• The participant's voluntary withdrawal from the study at any stage for any reason

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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43 participants in 2 patient groups

Motor Support Program

Experimental group

Description:

The motor support program (MSP) consists of activities prepared by the researchers by taking into account the test protocols used to achieve desired changes in children's gross motor (throwing, jumping, catching, running, etc.), sensory-motor (sensory modulation, sensory processing, sensory inputs related to movement) skill levels and developmental areas.

Treatment:

Other: Motor Support Program

Standard Education (No Motor Support)

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the control group continued their individual education programs. However, they did not participate in any physiotherapy or motor support programs. Only pre- and post-test measurements were taken.