Rapid review: intervention strategies for children aged 4 to 12 with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder who have neuromotor disorders

Authors

  • Camila Paz Jorquera Gallardo Universidad Andrés Bello, Facultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación. Santiago, Chile Author
  • Simón Ignacio Pereira Bruna Universidad Andrés Bello, Facultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación. Santiago, Chile Author
  • Pedro Di Vicenzi Sánchez Universidad Andrés Bello, Facultad de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación. Santiago, Chile Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56294/neuro2024136

Keywords:

Autism Spectrum Disorder, motor development, intervention, physical activity, virtual reality

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents significant challenges in the area of neurological development. It is characterized by difficulties in social interaction and repetitive behaviors. However, individuals with ASD may also exhibit neuromotor problems. This research is a rapid review that aims to explore intervention strategies for boys and girls aged 4 to 12 years diagnosed with ASD who experience neuromotor difficulties. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL databases. The selection process involved a systematic strategy for searching and reviewing studies, applying the PRISMA methodology. The Rayyan tool was used to efficiently organize and assess summaries and titles. Out of 200 initial records, 5 studies were included for analysis. Intervention strategies based on physical activity, gross and fine motor skills, as well as benefits in quality of life were analyzed. The results of the review underscore significant improvements in motor and social skills post-intervention, utilizing a variety of approaches, including physical activity and emerging technologies such as virtual reality. The reviewed articles demonstrated the need to personalize interventions based on individual needs.The discussion emphasizes the correlation between motor and cognitive development, suggesting the importance of motor development intervention in ASD. It is necessary to include physical activity and technology, such as virtual reality, in the intervention plans. The conclusion reiterates the relevance of adapting effective and engaging interventions for children with ASD, based on current scientific evidence and highlighting the importance of a holistic and interdisciplinary approach.

References

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Importancia del desarrollo motor en relación con los procesos evolutivos del lenguaje y la cognición en niños de 3 a 7 años de la ciudad de Barranquilla (Colombia). Rev Salud Uninorte. 2010;26(1):65-76. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children age 8 years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring. Atlanta: CDC; 2014. Chu CH, Tsai CL, Chen FC, Sit CHP, Chen PL, Pan CY. The role of physical activity and body-related perceptions in motor skill competence of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Disabil Rehabil. 2020;42(10):1373-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1526334 Crippa A. Fundamental motor skills intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: a 10-year narrative review. Children. 2020;7(11):250. https://doi.org/10.3390/children7110250 Díaz JML, Rodríguez RM, Bastias JLL. Análisis del impacto de un programa deportivo en niños con Trastorno del Espectro del Autismo. Retos. 2021;(39):98-105. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i39.74841 Elsabbagh M, Divan G, Koh YJ, Kim YS, Kauchali S, Marcín C, et al. Global prevalence of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Autism Res. 2012;5(3):160-79. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.239 Guivarch J, Jouve E, Avenel E, Poinso F, Conforti-Roussel L. Effect of physical therapy on 7- to 10-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder: a retrospective study in a university day hospital. Bull Menninger Clin. 2021;85(4):385-404. https://doi.org/10.1521/bumc.2021.85.4.385 Harris SR. Early motor delays as diagnostic clues in autism spectrum disorder. Eur J Pediatr. 2017;176(9):1259-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-2951-7 Hawks Z, Constantino JN, Weichselbaum C, Marrus N. Accelerating motor skill acquisition for bicycle riding in children with ASD: a pilot study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2020;50:342-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04224-5 Hocking DR, Ardalan A, Abu-Rayya HM, Farhat H, Andoni A, Lenroot R, et al. Feasibility of a virtual reality-based exercise intervention and low-cost motion tracking method for estimation of motor proficiency in youth with autism spectrum disorder. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2022;19(1):1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-021-00978-1 Hill AP, Zuckerman K, Fombonne E. Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders. In: Volkmar FR, Rogers SJ, Paul R, Pelphrey KA, editors. Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. Diagnosis, development, and brain mechanisms. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Hoboken: Wiley; 2014. p. 57-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-52002-9.00023-1 Kaur M, Bhat A. Creative yoga intervention improves motor and imitation skills of children with autism spectrum disorder. Phys Ther. 2019;99(11):1520-34. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzz115 King V, Stevens A, Nußbaumer-Streit B, Kamel C, Garritty C. Paper 2: Performing rapid reviews. Syst Rev. 2022;11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-022-02011-5 Kozlowski KF, Lopata C, Donnelly JP, Thomeer ML, Rodgers JD, Seymour C. Feasibility and associated physical performance outcomes of a high-intensity exercise program for children with autism. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2021;92(3):289-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2020.1726272 Landa R, Garrett-Mayer E. Development in infants with autism spectrum disorders: a prospective study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006;47(6):629-38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01531.x Leonard HC, Hill EL. Review: The impact of motor development on typical and atypical social cognition and language: a systematic review. Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2014;19(3):163-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12055 Lloyd M, MacDonald M, Lord C. Motor skills of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Autism. 2013;17(2):133-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361311402230 Lopez-Espejo MA, Nuñez AC, Moscoso OC, Escobar RG. Clinical characteristics of children affected by autism spectrum disorder with and without generalized hypotonia. Eur J Pediatr. 2021;180(10):3243-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021-04038-7 Maenner MJ, Shaw KA, Baio J, Washington A, Patrick M, DiRienzo M, et al. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2016. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2020;69(4):1-12. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6904a1 Memari AH, Ghanouni P, Shayestehfar M, Ghaheri B. Postural control impairments in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: a critical review of current literature. Asian J Sports Med. 2014;5(3):e22963. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.22963 Melnikov EY, Khodasevich LS, Polyakova AV, Legkaya EF. Dvigatel'nye narusheniya u detei s rasstroistvami autisticheskogo spektra: prichiny vozniknoveniya i vozmozhnosti korrektsii [Motor impairments in children with autism spectrum disorders: causes and possibilities for correction]. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 2023;100(4):54-61. https://doi.org/10.17116/kurort202310004154 Oligbo M, Lawson LM, Vaduvathiriyan P. Motor interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review. Ther Recreat J. 2023;57(4):340-64. https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2023-V57-I4-11995 Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021;372:n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71 Perin C, Valagussa G, Mazzucchelli M, Gariboldi V, Cerri CG, Meroni R, et al. Physiological profile assessment of posture in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing peers. Brain Sci. 2020;10(10):681. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10100681 Provost B, Lopez BR, Heimerl S. A comparison of motor delays in young children: autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and developmental concerns. J Autism Dev Disord. 2007;37(2):321-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0170-6 Rocha CL, Castelli LF, Flores DF, Bustos FT, Nahuelpán SQ, Álvarez MA, et al. Desarrollo motor en niños-escolares de 5-12 años con trastornos del espectro autista (TEA): una revisión sistemática. Rev Peru Cienc Act Fís Deporte. 2021;8(3):10. https://doi.org/10.53820/rpcafd.v8i3.151 Skowronski JM, Engsberg JR. Blended Approach to Occupational Performance (BAOP): guidelines enabling children with autism. Open J Occup Ther. 2017;5(1):7. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1282 Vukićević S, Đorđević M, Glumbić N, Bogdanović Z, Đurić Jovičić M. A demonstration project for the utility of Kinect-based educational games to benefit motor skills of children with ASD. Percept Mot Skills. 2019;126(6):1117-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512519867521 Wang MV, Lekhal R, Aarø LE, Schjølberg S. Co-occurring development of early childhood communication and motor skills: results from a population-based longitudinal study. Child Care Health Dev. 2014;40(1):77-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12003 Wilson RB. Improving awareness, identification, and treatment of motor impairments in autism. Pediatrics. 2022;149(Suppl 4):e2020049437K. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-049437K.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. Ament K, Mejia A, Buhlman R, Erklin S, Caffo B, Mostofsky S, et al. Evidence for specificity of motor impairments in catching and balance in children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015;45(3):742-51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2229-0 Bermello DOB, Castillo YEC, Morales ASE, Zambrano DAL, Yupangui VAE. Intervención multidisciplinaria en pacientes con trastorno del espectro autista con base en las prácticas centradas a la familia. RECIAMUC. 2024;8(1):288-96. https://doi.org/10.26820/reciamuc/8.(1).ene.2024.288-296 Busti Ceccarelli S, Ferrante C, Gazzola E, Marzocchi GM, Nobile M, Molteni M, et al. Fundamental motor skills intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: a 10-year narrative review. Children (Basel). 2020;7(11):250. https://doi.org/10.3390/children7110250 Campo Ternera LA. Importancia del desarrollo motor en relación con los procesos evolutivos del lenguaje y la cognición en niños de 3 a 7 años de la ciudad de Barranquilla (Colombia). Rev Salud Uninorte. 2010;26(1):65-76. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children age 8 years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring. Atlanta: CDC; 2014. Chu CH, Tsai CL, Chen FC, Sit CHP, Chen PL, Pan CY. The role of physical activity and body-related perceptions in motor skill competence of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Disabil Rehabil. 2020;42(10):1373-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1526334 Crippa A. Fundamental motor skills intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: a 10-year narrative review. Children. 2020;7(11):250. https://doi.org/10.3390/children7110250 Díaz JML, Rodríguez RM, Bastias JLL. Análisis del impacto de un programa deportivo en niños con Trastorno del Espectro del Autismo. Retos. 2021;(39):98-105. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v0i39.74841 Elsabbagh M, Divan G, Koh YJ, Kim YS, Kauchali S, Marcín C, et al. Global prevalence of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Autism Res. 2012;5(3):160-79. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.239 Guivarch J, Jouve E, Avenel E, Poinso F, Conforti-Roussel L. Effect of physical therapy on 7- to 10-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder: a retrospective study in a university day hospital. Bull Menninger Clin. 2021;85(4):385-404. https://doi.org/10.1521/bumc.2021.85.4.385 Harris SR. Early motor delays as diagnostic clues in autism spectrum disorder. Eur J Pediatr. 2017;176(9):1259-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-2951-7 Hawks Z, Constantino JN, Weichselbaum C, Marrus N. Accelerating motor skill acquisition for bicycle riding in children with ASD: a pilot study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2020;50:342-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04224-5 Hocking DR, Ardalan A, Abu-Rayya HM, Farhat H, Andoni A, Lenroot R, et al. Feasibility of a virtual reality-based exercise intervention and low-cost motion tracking method for estimation of motor proficiency in youth with autism spectrum disorder. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2022;19(1):1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-021-00978-1 Hill AP, Zuckerman K, Fombonne E. Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders. In: Volkmar FR, Rogers SJ, Paul R, Pelphrey KA, editors. Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. Diagnosis, development, and brain mechanisms. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Hoboken: Wiley; 2014. p. 57-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-52002-9.00023-1 Kaur M, Bhat A. Creative yoga intervention improves motor and imitation skills of children with autism spectrum disorder. Phys Ther. 2019;99(11):1520-34. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzz115 King V, Stevens A, Nußbaumer-Streit B, Kamel C, Garritty C. Paper 2: Performing rapid reviews. Syst Rev. 2022;11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-022-02011-5 Kozlowski KF, Lopata C, Donnelly JP, Thomeer ML, Rodgers JD, Seymour C. Feasibility and associated physical performance outcomes of a high-intensity exercise program for children with autism. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2021;92(3):289-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2020.1726272 Landa R, Garrett-Mayer E. Development in infants with autism spectrum disorders: a prospective study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006;47(6):629-38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01531.x Leonard HC, Hill EL. Review: The impact of motor development on typical and atypical social cognition and language: a systematic review. Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2014;19(3):163-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12055 Lloyd M, MacDonald M, Lord C. Motor skills of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Autism. 2013;17(2):133-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361311402230 Lopez-Espejo MA, Nuñez AC, Moscoso OC, Escobar RG. Clinical characteristics of children affected by autism spectrum disorder with and without generalized hypotonia. Eur J Pediatr. 2021;180(10):3243-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021-04038-7 Maenner MJ, Shaw KA, Baio J, Washington A, Patrick M, DiRienzo M, et al. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2016. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2020;69(4):1-12. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6904a1 Memari AH, Ghanouni P, Shayestehfar M, Ghaheri B. Postural control impairments in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: a critical review of current literature. Asian J Sports Med. 2014;5(3):e22963. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.22963 Melnikov EY, Khodasevich LS, Polyakova AV, Legkaya EF. Dvigatel'nye narusheniya u detei s rasstroistvami autisticheskogo spektra: prichiny vozniknoveniya i vozmozhnosti korrektsii [Motor impairments in children with autism spectrum disorders: causes and possibilities for correction]. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 2023;100(4):54-61. https://doi.org/10.17116/kurort202310004154 Oligbo M, Lawson LM, Vaduvathiriyan P. Motor interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review. Ther Recreat J. 2023;57(4):340-64. https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2023-V57-I4-11995 Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021;372:n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71 Perin C, Valagussa G, Mazzucchelli M, Gariboldi V, Cerri CG, Meroni R, et al. Physiological profile assessment of posture in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing peers. Brain Sci. 2020;10(10):681. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10100681 Provost B, Lopez BR, Heimerl S. A comparison of motor delays in young children: autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and developmental concerns. J Autism Dev Disord. 2007;37(2):321-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0170-6 Rocha CL, Castelli LF, Flores DF, Bustos FT, Nahuelpán SQ, Álvarez MA, et al. Desarrollo motor en niños-escolares de 5-12 años con trastornos del espectro autista (TEA): una revisión sistemática. Rev Peru Cienc Act Fís Deporte. 2021;8(3):10. https://doi.org/10.53820/rpcafd.v8i3.151 Skowronski JM, Engsberg JR. Blended Approach to Occupational Performance (BAOP): guidelines enabling children with autism. Open J Occup Ther. 2017;5(1):7. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1282 Vukićević S, Đorđević M, Glumbić N, Bogdanović Z, Đurić Jovičić M. A demonstration project for the utility of Kinect-based educational games to benefit motor skills of children with ASD. Percept Mot Skills. 2019;126(6):1117-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512519867521 Wang MV, Lekhal R, Aarø LE, Schjølberg S. Co-occurring development of early childhood communication and motor skills: results from a population-based longitudinal study. Child Care Health Dev. 2014;40(1):77-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12003 Wilson RB. Improving awareness, identification, and treatment of motor impairments in autism. Pediatrics. 2022;149(Suppl 4):e2020049437K. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-049437K.

Published

2024-12-30

Issue

Section

Original

How to Cite

1.
Jorquera Gallardo CP, Pereira Bruna SI, Vicenzi Sánchez PD. Rapid review: intervention strategies for children aged 4 to 12 with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder who have neuromotor disorders. Neurodivergences [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 30 [cited 2025 Oct. 7];3:136. Available from: https://neuro.ageditor.ar/index.php/neuro/article/view/136