Author

Motor program and duration

Participants

Assessment instruments

Results

Arzoglou et al. (2013)

Greek traditional dance training program;

8 weeks; 3 times per week;

duration 35 - 45 m.

10 individuals with autism;

Average age 16 years old.

Korperkoordinations test für Kinder (KTK) (Kiphard & Schilling, 1974) .

Improve their neuromuscular coordination.

Borgi et al. (2016)

Equine assisted therapy;

1 a week; 6 months;

60 - 70 min.

28 children with ASD; 6 - 12 years.

Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS, Sparrow et al. 1984 ); Tower of London (TOL, Shallice, 1982 ).

Improvement in social functioning; Milder effect on motor abilities.

Bremer et al. (2014)

Fundamental motor skill;

1 h/week for 12 weeks vs. 2 h/week for 6 weeks.

9 children with ASD;

4 years old.

Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2);

Vineland Adaptive Behavior

Scales-2 (VABS-2)

The Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS).

Significant improvement of children’s skills in the experimental group.

Cheldavi et al. (2014)

Balance training; 45 m/session;

3 session per week; 18 sessions.

20 boys with high functioning ASD;

7 - 10 years old.

Bertec force plate (type strain gage, 40 - 60).

Improved the postural control.

Dickinson & Place (2014)

Nintendo Wii and the software package “Mario and Sonics at the Olympics”; 15 m day/3 week.

50 children with ASD;

5 - 15 years.

Eurofit.

Statistically significant improvement on all tests.

Golsefidi et al. (2013)

Core stabilization training;

8 weeks; 3 times/week.

20 children with high functioning autism.

Stork test to assess static balance;

To evaluate the dynamic balance, the beam was used, where the child walked.

The study showed that core stabilization exercises can improve static and dynamic balance and can be done along with other exercises.

Hilton et al. (2014)

Exergaming, specifically the Makoto arena training intervention;

30 sessions; 3 per week.

7 with ASD;

6 - 13 years.

Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function

(BRIEF); BOT-2.

Improvement in the executive function, working memory, metacognition, strength and agility.

Ketcheson et al. (2017)

8-week

Motor skill instruction 4 h/day;

5 days/week.

20 children with ASD;

4 - 6 years old.

Test of Gross Motor Development-2 Accelerometers;

Playground Observation of Peer Engagement.

Statistically significant changes at the locomotor level object control and gross quotient.

Kruger (2018)

Dance

14 seminars; 2 per week;

50 m per section.

9 children with ASD;

5 - 10 years old.

Test of Gross Motor Development” (TGMD-2);

Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).

Improved motor skills.

Lanning et al. (2014)

Equine assisted activities;

12 weeks;

1 hour per session;

25 children with ASD

4 - 15 years.

Pediatric Quality of Life 4.0

Generic Core Scales (PedsQL);

Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).

Improvements in physical, emotional and social functioning and in behavior.

Lourenço et al. (2015a)

Trampoline training;

1 session/week;

45 minutes;

20 weeks.

17 children with ASD;

4 - 10years old.

Bruininks-Oseretsky (2ª ed. 2005), short form.

Significant Improvements in motor proficiency, bilateral coordination, balance, speed and agility and strength.

Lourenço et al. (2015b)

Trampoline training;

1 session/week;

45 minutes;

32 weeks.

16children with ASD;

4 - 11 years.

Bruininks-Oseretsky (2ª ed. 2005), short form. The strength of the lower limbs was estimated by a long jump with both feet together (without run up).

Significant way to the improvement of both the strength of the inferior limbs and motor proficiency.

Movahedi et al. (2013)

Kata techniques training;

14 weeks; 4 days/week.

30 children with ASD;

5 - 16 years.

Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (GARS-2).

Significant improvement in social interaction.