scholarly journals Feasibility of a virtual reality-based exercise intervention and low-cost motion tracking method for estimation of motor proficiency in youth with autism spectrum disorder

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren R. Hocking ◽  
Adel Ardalan ◽  
Hisham M. Abu-Rayya ◽  
Hassan Farhat ◽  
Anna Andoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motion Capture ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Motion Tracking ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Body Movement ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
Standardized Measures ◽  
Gross Motor Skills

Abstract Background Motor impairment is widely acknowledged as a core feature in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which can affect adaptive behavior and increase severity of symptoms. Low-cost motion capture and virtual reality (VR) game technologies hold a great deal of promise for providing personalized approaches to motor intervention in ASD. The present study explored the feasibility, acceptability and potential efficacy of a custom-designed VR game-based intervention (GaitWayXR™) for improving gross motor skills in youth with ASD. Methods Ten children and adolescents (10–17 years) completed six, 20-min VR-based motor training sessions over 2 weeks while whole-body movement was tracked with a low-cost motion capture system. We developed a methodology for using motion tracking data to quantify whole-body movement in terms of efficiency, synchrony and symmetry. We then studied the relationships of the above quantities with standardized measures of motor skill and cognitive flexibility. Results Our results supported our presumption that the VR intervention is safe, with no adverse events and very few minor to moderate side-effects, while a large proportion of parents said they would use the VR game at home, the most prohibitive reasons for adopting the system for home therapy were cost and space. Although there was little evidence of any benefits of the GaitWayXR™ intervention in improving gross motor skills, we showed several positive correlations between the standardized measures of gross motor skills in ASD and our measures of efficiency, symmetry and synchrony from low-cost motion capture. Conclusions These findings, though preliminary and limited by small sample size, suggest that low-cost motion capture of children with ASD is feasible with movement exercises in a VR-based game environment. Based on these preliminary findings, we recommend conducting larger-scale studies with methods for improving adherence to VR gaming interventions over longer periods.

scholarly journals Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Battaglia ◽  
Gianna Agrò ◽  
Pietro Cataldo ◽  
Antonio Palma ◽  
Marianna Alesi
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
Gross Motor Skills ◽  
Mental Age ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Swimming pool activities revealed to be efficacious to train psychomotor skills and increase adaptive behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a specific multi-systemic aquatic therapy (CI-MAT) on gross motor and social skills in three adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Methods: three adolescents with ASD of which two boys (M1 with a chronological age of 10.3 years and a mental age of 4.7 years; M2 with a chronological age of 14.6 and a mental age inferior to 4 years) and one girl (chronological age of 14.0 and a mental age inferior to 4 years). The study was divided into three phases: baseline, 12-week CI-MAT program and Post-Test. Participants were administered a battery of tests incorporating anthropometric measurements, gross motor development test and a social skills questionnaire before and after a 12-week MAT-CI program. Results: Subjects improved locomotors and object control skills following the CI-MAT program in a different way. Concerning social behaviors, the higher proportion of gains was observed in the sensitivity of other’s presence and eye contact, for the contact domain, and in the comply turn for the relationship domain. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the CI-MAT program was effective for the development of gross-motor skills and social behaviors in subjects with ASD. Moreover there is an urge to carry out a whole psychological assessment targeting both motor and adaptive development suitable to provide educational and vocational plans of exercises for people with ASD.

scholarly journals A Family-based Telerehabilitation Program for Improving Gross Motor Skills in Children With High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa Aqdassi ◽  
Saeid Sadeghi ◽  
Hamid Reza Pouretemad ◽  
Jalil Fathabadi
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Motor Program ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
Gross Motor Skills ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Rehabilitation Centers ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Family Based

Introduction: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience problems in motor skills which can affect other abilities such as academic and daily life skills.  In this regard,  the cost of interventions and the long distance from the rehabilitation  centers  put pressure  on the family of children with ASD. Previous studies have shown the potential for using telerehabilitation as a more affordable way to provide interventions for children with ASD. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the non-attendant family-centered Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) motor program intervention to develop gross motor skills in children with a high-function ASD. Materials and Methods: The research is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. The participants were 9 families  of  children  with  high-functioning ASD  referring to the rehabilitation centers in Tehran, Isfahan, Quds, and Kermanshah provinces, Iran. Telerehabilitation of SPARK motor program involves exercising and playing performed in 24 sessions of 45 minutes each (3 sessions per week) for 8 weeks applied for parents. The test of gross motor development-2 (TGMD-2) was used for data collection. The collected data were analyzed by paired t-test. Results: The results showed that family-based telerehabilitation of the SPARK program significantly improved gross motor skills in children with high-functioning ASD (P<0.05). Conclusion: It seems that the telerehabilitation of SPARK can be helpful for families who do not have access to rehabilitation centers.

scholarly journals Decreased Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Associated with HMGB1 and Increased Hyperactivity in Children with Autism

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. BMI.S11270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Russo
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Receptive Language ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
Gross Motor Skills

Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), characterized by impaired social interactions and deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication, are thought to affect 1 in 88 children in the United States. There is much support for the role of growth factors in the etiology of autism. Recent research has shown that epithelial growth factor (EGF) is decreased in young autistic children (2–4 years of age). This study was designed to determine plasma levels of EGF in an older group of autistic children (mean age 10.6 years) and to correlate these EGF levels with putative biomarkers HGF, uPA, uPAR, GAD2, MPO GABA, and HMGB1, as well as symptom severity of 19 different symptoms. Subjects and Methods Plasma from 38 autistic children, 11 children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD-NOS) and 40 neurotypical, age and gender similar controls was assessed for EGF concentration using ELISAs. Severity of 19 symptoms (awareness, expressive language, receptive language, (conversational) pragmatic language, focus/attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, perseveration, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, hypotonia (low muscle tone), tiptoeing, rocking/pacing, stimming, obsessions/fixations, eye contact, sound sensitivity, light sensitivity, and tactile sensitivity) was assessed and then compared to EGF concentrations. Results In this study, we found EGF levels in autistic children and those with PDD-NOS to be significantly lower when compared with neurotypical controls. EGF levels correlated with HMGB1 levels but not the other tested putative biomarkers, and EGF correlated negatively with hyperactivity, gross motor skills, and tiptoeing but not other symptoms. Conclusions These results suggest an association between decreased plasma EGF levels and selected symptom severity. We also found a strong correlation between plasma EGF and HMGB1, suggesting inflammation is associated with decreased EGF.

scholarly journals Prevalence of motor disorders and repetitive movements among children with Autism spectrum disorders and Tics disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. e0303133
Author(s):  
Kostiantyn Dubovyk
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Motor Disorders ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
Gross Motor Skills ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Repetitive Movements ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Background. Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulties in the development of simulating, gross and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and language skills. Tics and repetitive movements often associated with ASD, intellectual deficiency. Aim. To identify a relationship between tic disorders and specific developmental disorders: motor skills, speech, cognitive functions in children with ASD. Methods. There were randomized 79 children aged 4-6 years with ASD, 38 children among them with comorbid tics disorders (TD). For the diagnosis of ASD were used diagnostic criteria of ICD-10, Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). The development of motor skills, speech, and cognitive function was assessed using Psycho-educational Profile (PEP-R). For the diagnosis of comorbid mental disorders ware conducted using The Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). As motor disorders considered tics, abnormal movements associated with ADHD, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Tics were assessed by Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS). Results. In children with ASD and comorbid TD was noted retardation of formation of gross motor skills in comparison with the control group by PEP-R. It was also noted delay in the formation of skills in receptive speech and gross motor skills in accordance with the results of evaluation by using Vineland-II.

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