The Effect of Pilates on Muscle Strength, Balance Performance, Gross Motor Skills, Social Skills in Children With ASD
Condition: Autism
MeSH terms: Autistic Disorder
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to determine the effects of Pilates
      Training by comparing the effects of Aerobic Training on muscle strength, balance
      performance, gross motor skills and social skills in children with autism.

      As a result of this study Aerobic Training and Pilates Training are both effective in the
      improvement of balance performance and gross motor skills in children with autism, with more
      improvement in muscle strength in Aerobic Training. Pilates Training could be considered as
      an alternative training to increase physical activity in children with autism.
    

Detailed description: 
      The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to determine the effects of Pilates
      Training by comparing the effects of Aerobic Training on muscle strength, balance
      performance, gross motor skills and social skills in children with autism.

      As a result of this study Aerobic Training and Pilates Training are both effective in the
      improvement of balance performance and gross motor skills in children with autism, with more
      improvement in muscle strength in Aerobic Training. Pilates Training could be considered as
      an alternative training to increase physical activity in children with autism.

      This study will answer whether pilates practice has an effect on Muscle Strength, Balance
      Performance, Gross Motor Skills and Social Skills in Children With Autism.

      Demographic information of the participants was recorded.Muscle strength for shoulder
      flexors, hip flexors and knee extensors were performed with Hand-held dynamometry.The
      one-legged standing test was used to evaluate static balance performance.Test of Gross Motor
      Development (TGMT-2) was used to evaluate gross motor skills of participants. The Autism
      Social Skills Profile Turkish Form (ASSP- T) was used to evaluate social skills of
      participants.
    

Intervention name(s): Pilates training
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Eighteen children with autism did not meet the inclusion criteria, ten children did not want to participate in the study, and five children were not included in the study due to different reasons. A total of 22 children between the age of 7 and 12 years were participated in this study. The inclusion criteria were (i) being diagnosed with autism, (ii) not having physical disabilities or neurological disorders, (iii) having the ability to follow the instructions given during evaluations and training, and (iv) having the ability to perform the requested training. All parents of participants signed an informed consent form for participation. were divided into two groups including Aerobic Training (n=11) and Pilates Training (n=11) groups by simple randomization method (internet-based). Since one child in the experimental group did not continue Pilates Training, the study was completed with the participation of 21 children with autism.
Other intervention name(s): Aerobic Training
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Autism; Pilates training; Aerobic training; Gross motor skills; Muscle strength; Social skills