Schmitz Olin Stefanie, McFadden Bridget A, Golem Devon L, Pellegrino Joseph K, Walker Alan J, Sanders David J, Arent Shawn M
1IFNH Center for Health and Human Performance, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ; 2Institute of Continuing Education for Nutrition Professionals, Charlottesville, VA; and 3Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017 May;49(5):983-990. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001197.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurological disorder in children characterized by restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior that place an added burden on everyday functions. Aerobic exercise has the propensity to reduce stereotypic behaviors in children with ASD. This study sought to quantify the acute effect of exercise and to assess the influence of duration and intensity on the frequency of stereotypic behaviors in children with ASD.
Participants in this study (N = 7, Mage = 13.0 ± 1.4 yr, Mheight = 1.64 ± 0.01 m, and Mweight = 60.1 ± 13.7 kg) underwent five separate days of treatments, including a control condition (C), a low-intensity 10-min condition (10L), a high-intensity 10-min condition (10H), a low-intensity 20-min condition (20L), and a high-intensity 20-min condition (20H) in which intensity was quantified using HR as well as RPE. Before and 60 min after exercise, the frequency of stereotypic behaviors was recorded.
Results indicated a reduction in behaviors in response to exercise compared with the C trial throughout all conditions except 20H. Interestingly, the most exhaustive exercise session led to increased stereotypic behaviors at all postexercise periods compared with the other exercise trials (P < 0.10). The 10L condition showed the greatest reduction at 60 min postexercise compared with the 20H or the control trial's response (P < 0.05). Examining the behavioral responses to exercise using effect sizes indicated the 10L condition showed the greatest reduction in frequency throughout all four time points (ESrange = -0.87 to -1.03) compared with baseline.
Although it appears high-intensity aerobic exercise may exacerbate stereotypic behaviors in children with ASD, low- to moderate-intensity exercise produces significant and large reductions in these behaviors. This provides an easily administered and cost-effective way to positively impact these individuals.
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种在儿童中普遍存在的神经障碍，其特征是具有限制性行为、重复行为模式，这给日常功能带来了额外负担。有氧运动有降低自闭症谱系障碍儿童刻板行为的倾向。本研究旨在量化运动的急性效应，并评估持续时间和强度对自闭症谱系障碍儿童刻板行为频率的影响。
本研究的参与者（N = 7，平均年龄 = 13.0 ± 1.4岁，平均身高 = 1.64 ± 0.01米，平均体重 = 60.1 ± 13.7千克）接受了为期五天的不同治疗，包括一个对照条件（C）、一个低强度10分钟条件（10L）、一个高强度10分钟条件（10H）、一个低强度20分钟条件（20L）和一个高强度20分钟条件（20H），其中强度通过心率（HR）以及主观用力程度分级（RPE）来量化。在运动前和运动后60分钟，记录刻板行为的频率。
结果表明，除20H外，在所有条件下，与C试验相比，运动后行为均有所减少。有趣的是，与其他运动试验相比，最剧烈的运动时段在运动后的所有时间段都导致刻板行为增加（P < 0.10）。与20H或对照试验的反应相比，10L条件在运动后60分钟时减少幅度最大（P < 0.05）。使用效应量来检查对运动的行为反应表明，与基线相比，10L条件在所有四个时间点的频率降低幅度最大（效应量范围 = -0.87至 -1.03）。
虽然高强度有氧运动似乎可能会加剧自闭症谱系障碍儿童的刻板行为，但低至中等强度的运动能显著且大幅减少这些行为。这提供了一种易于实施且具有成本效益的方式来对这些个体产生积极影响。
