Battaglia Giuseppe, Agrò Gianna, Cataldo Pietro, Palma Antonio, Alesi Marianna
Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo 90128 Sicily, Italy.
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, 90144 Sicily, Italy.
J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2019 May 24;4(2):27. doi: 10.3390/jfmk4020027.
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).
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.
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.
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.
事实证明，游泳池活动对于训练自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童的心理运动技能和增加适应性行为是有效的。因此，本研究的目的是调查一种特定的多系统水上疗法（CI-MAT）对三名自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）青少年的大运动和社交技能的疗效。
三名患有ASD的青少年，其中两名男孩（M1实际年龄10.3岁，心理年龄4.7岁；M2实际年龄14.6岁，心理年龄低于4岁）和一名女孩（实际年龄14.0岁，心理年龄低于4岁）。该研究分为三个阶段：基线、为期12周的CI-MAT计划和后测。在为期12周的MAT-CI计划前后，对参与者进行了一系列测试，包括人体测量、大运动发育测试和社交技能问卷。
在CI-MAT计划之后，受试者以不同方式改善了运动和物体控制技能。关于社交行为，在他人在场的敏感性和眼神接触方面（接触领域）以及在关系领域的顺应转向方面观察到更高比例的改善。
本研究结果表明，CI-MAT计划对ASD受试者的大运动技能和社交行为发展有效。此外，迫切需要针对运动和适应性发展进行全面的心理评估，以便为ASD患者提供教育和职业锻炼计划。
