Gross motor function and health fitness in adults with autistic spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: single-blind retrospective trial

Jun-Youl Cha; Su-Kyung Min; Tae-Hyun Yoon; Yong-Seok Jee

doi:10.12965/jer.2040270.135

Gross motor function and health fitness in adults with autistic spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: single-blind retrospective trial

J Exerc Rehabil. 2020 Jun 30;16(3):258-264. doi: 10.12965/jer.2040270.135. eCollection 2020 Jun.

Authors

Jun-Youl Cha^{1

2}, Su-Kyung Min^{3

2}, Tae-Hyun Yoon², Yong-Seok Jee²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Martial Arts∙Guard, Howon University, Gunsan, Korea.
² Research Institute of Sports and Industry Science (RISIS), Hanseo University, Seosan, Korea.
³ Department of Physical Education, Chungbuk National University, Chungju, Korea.

Abstract

This study aimed at providing an exercise program for each type of disability after analyzing the exercise program performed by adults with intellectual disability (ID) or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty-nine male adults voluntarily took part in this study, whose age ranged from 19 to 28 years and with an average body mass index of 23.98± 4.02 kg/m². The sample was divided into two groups as follows: ASD group (ASDG; n=15) and ID group (IDG, n=14). The selected tests used to measure gross motor function (GMF, locomotion and object control skills) and health fitness (body composition, flexibility, strength, muscle endurance, and cardiopulmonary endurance) were also used in previous studies. The GMF and health fitness between ASDG and IDG showed no significant differences. This study indicates that exercise programs could provide similar effects, even with other disorder types having similar symptoms.

Keywords: Autistic spectrum disorder; Gross motor function; Health fitness; Intellectual disability.