Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports
Swimming pool activities revealed to be efficacious to train psychomotor skills and increase adaptive behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a specific multi-systemic aquatic therapy (CI-MAT) on gross motor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/4/2/27 |
| _version_ | 1828269322202513408 |
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| author | Giuseppe Battaglia Gianna Agrò Pietro Cataldo Antonio Palma Marianna Alesi |
| author_facet | Giuseppe Battaglia Gianna Agrò Pietro Cataldo Antonio Palma Marianna Alesi |
| author_sort | Giuseppe Battaglia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Swimming pool activities revealed to be efficacious to train psychomotor skills and increase adaptive behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a specific multi-systemic aquatic therapy (CI-MAT) on gross motor and social skills in three adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Methods: three adolescents with ASD of which two boys (M1 with a chronological age of 10.3 years and a mental age of 4.7 years; M2 with a chronological age of 14.6 and a mental age inferior to 4 years) and one girl (chronological age of 14.0 and a mental age inferior to 4 years). The study was divided into three phases: baseline, 12-week CI-MAT program and Post-Test. Participants were administered a battery of tests incorporating anthropometric measurements, gross motor development test and a social skills questionnaire before and after a 12-week MAT-CI program. Results: Subjects improved locomotors and object control skills following the CI-MAT program in a different way. Concerning social behaviors, the higher proportion of gains was observed in the sensitivity of other’s presence and eye contact, for the contact domain, and in the comply turn for the relationship domain. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the CI-MAT program was effective for the development of gross-motor skills and social behaviors in subjects with ASD. Moreover there is an urge to carry out a whole psychological assessment targeting both motor and adaptive development suitable to provide educational and vocational plans of exercises for people with ASD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:29:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cea164f9d63d40d6ba300b185db5271c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5142 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:29:47Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-cea164f9d63d40d6ba300b185db5271c2022-12-22T03:00:29ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422019-05-014227010.3390/jfmk4020027jfmk4020027Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case ReportsGiuseppe Battaglia0Gianna Agrò1Pietro Cataldo2Antonio Palma3Marianna Alesi4Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo 90128 Sicily, ItalyDepartment of Economics, Management and Statistics, University of Palermo, 90128 Sicily, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo 90128 Sicily, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo 90128 Sicily, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo 90128 Sicily, ItalySwimming pool activities revealed to be efficacious to train psychomotor skills and increase adaptive behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a specific multi-systemic aquatic therapy (CI-MAT) on gross motor and social skills in three adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Methods: three adolescents with ASD of which two boys (M1 with a chronological age of 10.3 years and a mental age of 4.7 years; M2 with a chronological age of 14.6 and a mental age inferior to 4 years) and one girl (chronological age of 14.0 and a mental age inferior to 4 years). The study was divided into three phases: baseline, 12-week CI-MAT program and Post-Test. Participants were administered a battery of tests incorporating anthropometric measurements, gross motor development test and a social skills questionnaire before and after a 12-week MAT-CI program. Results: Subjects improved locomotors and object control skills following the CI-MAT program in a different way. Concerning social behaviors, the higher proportion of gains was observed in the sensitivity of other’s presence and eye contact, for the contact domain, and in the comply turn for the relationship domain. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the CI-MAT program was effective for the development of gross-motor skills and social behaviors in subjects with ASD. Moreover there is an urge to carry out a whole psychological assessment targeting both motor and adaptive development suitable to provide educational and vocational plans of exercises for people with ASD.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/4/2/27Autism Spectrum Disordersswimmingaquatic therapygross motor proficiencysocial skillsexercise |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppe Battaglia Gianna Agrò Pietro Cataldo Antonio Palma Marianna Alesi Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology Autism Spectrum Disorders swimming aquatic therapy gross motor proficiency social skills exercise |
| title | Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports |
| title_full | Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports |
| title_fullStr | Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports |
| title_short | Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports |
| title_sort | influence of a specific aquatic program on social and gross motor skills in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders three case reports |
| topic | Autism Spectrum Disorders swimming aquatic therapy gross motor proficiency social skills exercise |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/4/2/27 |
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