By Dr Ali Saber Mohamed
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors (1). Children with ASD often experience difficulties performing fundamental motor skills , such as walking, running, and jumping ( 2 ).
Motor comorbidities exist in over 87% of children diagnosed with ASD, children do not outgrow motor challenges with age, and these difficulties persist into adolescence and can negatively impact everyday activities (3). Motor difficulties include delayed acquisition of gross and fine motor skills, impaired bilateral coordination skills, poor postural control and balance skills. Impaired gait patterns, deficits in motor planning, as well as poor imitation and interpersonal synchrony skills (4).
Not all motor skills are equally affected by ASD , e.g static balance is more significantly impaired than other motor skills , suggesting that there is a specificity of motor impairments in ASD that particularly affect balance , as balance requires complex interplay of information processing, motor planning and timing, and sequencing of muscle movements (8,9).
Underdeveloped motor skills may induce a pattern of movement avoidance, body weight gain, and reduced physical interaction with peers. As a result, the differences in motor competence with typically developing peers will increase leading to the so-called skill learning gap (10).
There is strong evidence to support the beneficial effects of physical activity on multiple systems among children with ASD; balance skills of children (5), communication and social functioning skills ( 6 ), stereotyped behaviors (7).
Among the physical activities that help to treat ASD are martial arts routines, which can coordinate the body movements . strengthen the coordination of the whole body –hand-eye-body method, and promote the healthy development of body and mind (11). How ?
* Children with autism are generally reluctant to contact people , and their response is relatively slow. Martial arts routines emphasize learning from opponents, attacking and defending , advancing and retreating. Therefore, having children practice martial arts moves can improve their reaction speed.
* Children with autism are more resistant to changes in the environment . their behavior is more rigid, and they often make some repetitive actions. Martial arts movements are mostly flexible and focus on the combination of movement and stillness, therefore can enhance children physical coordination.
* Children with autism often shake their hands constantly and have poor control ability, while martial arts have their own set of movement paradigms.
* Martial arts include : karate , judo, aikido, taekwondo programs , etc. (12). I will discuss each program with its application in autism treatment in future articles.
References
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5, 5th ed, 2013
Staples KI et al ( 2010 ). Fundamental movement skills and autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord, 2010; 40:209-217
Anjana Bhat ( 2020 ). Is motor impairment in autism spectrum disorder distinct from developmental coordination disorder ? A report from the SPARK study . Phys Ther, 2020 Apr 17; 100 (4):633-644
Vaishnavi Shahane et al ( 2023 ). Effects of physical activity and exercise – based interventions in young adults with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Autism , 2023 May 1
Djordjevic M et al ( 2022 ). Exercise-based interventions aimed at improving balance in children with autism spectrum disorder: a meta analysis. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2022; 129(1): 90-119
Chan J et al ( 2021 ). The effectiveness of physical activity interventions on communication and social functioning in autistic children and adolescents: a meta analysis of controlled trials. Autism, 2021; 25 ( 4 ):874-886
Teh E et al ( 2021 ). Effects of physical exercise interventions on stereotyped motor behaviors in children with ASD: a meta analysis. J Autism Devel Disord, 2021; 52(7): 2934-2957
Katarina Ament et al ( 2015 ). Evidence for specificity of motor impairments in catching and balance in children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord, 2015 March; 45(3):742-751
John Stins and Claudia Emck ( 2018 ). Balance performance in autism: a brief overview. Frob Psychol, 2018;9;901
Wall A ( 2004 ). The developmental skill- learning gap hypothesis. Implications for children with movement difficulties. Adapt Phys Act Q, 2004;21:197-218
Li Li et al (2022 ). Comprehensive intervention and effect of martial arts routines on children with autism. J Environ Public Health, 2022
Stamenkovic A et al ( 2022 ). Effects of participating in martial arts in children: a systematic review. Children, 2022; 9:1203
