Exercise Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sponsor
National Taiwan University Hospital
Study ID
NCT07789457
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
4 Years - 10 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Exergaming — PROCEDURE
    Exergaming is defined as a type of active video game (or non-immersive virtual reality) that requires players to engage in full-body movements, involving moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
  • Aerobic exercise — PROCEDURE
    Aerobic exercise (AE) will apply interval-based training model, which serve as a feasible form of AE with intermittent, high-intensity, short-duration characteristics, and alternates between periods of activity and rest.
  • Conventional physical therapy — PROCEDURE
    Conventional physical therapy focusing on fundamental motor skills including locomotion and ball skills.
  • Behavioral Education — BEHAVIORAL
    Behavioral education focusing on sleep hygiene and behavioral strategies (e.g., extinction, reinforcement, developing appropriate bedtime and consistent bedtime routine) to facilitate specific strategies for enhancing child's sleep qualities

Study Details

The purpose of this clinical trial is to find out whether exergame and aerobic exercise can improve sleep, movement skills, thinking abilities, and brain activity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aims to answer the following questions: 1. Can exergame and aerobic exercise improve sleep, movement skills, and thinking abilities in children with ASD? 2. Can exergame and aerobic exercise change brain activity in children with ASD? Researchers will compare three different intervention programs: 1. Exergame combined with motor and behavioral intervention. 2. Aerobic exercise combined with motor and behavioral intervention. 3. Motor and behavioral intervention only. By comparing these three groups, researchers hope to determine whether adding exergames or aerobic exercise provides additional benefits for children with ASD. Participants will: 1. Attend one intervention session each week for 8 weeks. Depending on the group they are assigned to, they will receive either exergames combined with motor and behavioral intervention, aerobic exercise combined with motor and behavioral intervention, or motor and behavioral intervention only. 2. Complete a home exercise program twice a week for 12 weeks. 3. Visit the laboratory three times for assessments: before the intervention begins, at the end of Week 8, and at the end of Week 12.

Key Dates

First listed
Aug 27, 2026
Start date
May 17, 2026
Status verified
Aug 2026
Primary completion
Jul 30, 2028
Completion
Jul 30, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
105 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Exergaming group
    This experimental arm including exergame, motor intervention focusing on fundamental motor skills, and behavioral education on sleep disturbances.
  • Experimental: Interval based Aerobic Exercise group
    This experimental arm including interval-based aerobic exercise, motor intervention focusing on fundamental motor skills, and behavioral education on sleep disturbances.
  • Active Comparator: Control group
    This experimental arm including motor intervention focusing on fundamental motor skills, and behavioral education on sleep disturbances.

Primary Outcome Measure

Fundamental motor skills - Test of Gross Motor Development, Third Edition (TGMD-3) [ Time Frame: Pre-test, on the 8th week, on the 12th week ]

Central Contacts

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