Nasrin Bathaeian, Ali Heidarian Pour, Mohammad Bathaeian, Leyla Vesali Akbar Pour,
Volume 25, Issue 4 (October & November 2022)
Abstract
Introduction: The beneficial effects of physical activity in the treatment of brain-motor disorders of people with autism have received more attention, although the effects of exercise on the evaluation of motor factors (physical fitness) and brain waves have been less studied.
Methods: Eleven children with autism spectrum disorder (7-12 years) took part in the study. After a thorough medical examination and psychiatric assessment, children participated in aquatic exercise program (twice-weekly) for 8 consecutive weeks. Pre & post intervention evaluated base on QEEG (power alpha & coherence), movement assessment (euro fit exam), then stoical analyze are performed (P<0.05). The present research has been registered with the ethics committee of the faculty of sport sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University Hamadan under code IR.UMSHA.REC.1394.107.
Results: In this study, alpha wave absolute power but not coherence in frontal – occipital is significantly increased by8 consecutive weeks’ aquatic program (P<0.05). Physical Fitness assessment parameters (muscular strength/endurance, coordination, balance, flexibility) significantly improved and subside respectively (P<0.05).
Conclusions: These results indicate that aquatic exercise program may improve physical and mental disturbance in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
Mohammad Bathaeian, Ali Heidarianpour, Nasrin Bathaeian, Azadeh Naderi,
Volume 28, Issue 6 (1-2026)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Children with autism generally have overweight and obese body composition, high resting heart rate and high levels of stress and cortisol, and considering the effect of exercise on improving body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness, the purpose of this study is to investigate The effect of water exercise on the body composition indicators, heart indicators and cortisol level of children with autism.
Material and Methods: The methods in this semi-experimental study were performed with the pre-test-post-test plan and with the available individuals.The study included 11 children with autism between the ages of 5 and 10, who underwent an 8-week water exercise program (2 sessions per week) after a medical examination and psychiatric evaluation. Before and after exercise intervention, body composition indicators (weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM)) and cardiac indices (resting heart rate (RHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2max)) and urinary cortisol levels were measured. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used for the normality of the data, and the correlated t-test was used to compare the pre-test and post-test. Data analysis was done with spss21 software.
Ethical considerations:the present research with the code of the Ethics Committee 1394.106.IR UMSHA REC was adopted at the Faculty of sports science of the boweli Sinai University of Hamedan.
finding: 8 weeks of water exercise significantly reduced weight, BMI, FM, RHR, SBP, cortisol level and significantly increased Vo2max of children with autism (p<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that performing water exercise is useful for improving body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance and stress in children with autism.
