Effects of B-Active2 on Balance, Gait, Stress, and Well-Being of Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disability: A Controlled Trial

Abstract

Effects of B-Active2 (Enjoy Being Physically Active by Walking Safely: A Leisure Education Program) on the risk of falls, stress, and well-being of a sample of 44 adults with ASD (ages M = 36.88; SD =7.31) were examined using a controlled experimental trial. Given the relationship between physical activity and stress reduction to individual well-being, B-Active2 was developed as a multidimensional program involving leisure education and walking designed to create an enjoyable context in which adults with ASD learn about and engage in physical activity. All participants were evaluated on balance, gait, well-being, and stress at baseline and at 1 month postintervention by a team of therapists blind to study objectives. There was a significant difference postintervention on balance, F(1, 40) = 55.63, p < .001, η = .58; gait, F(1, 40) = 23.58, p < .001, η =.37; and well-being, F(1, 40) = 34.16, p< .001, η = .47). No statistically significant effect was found for level of stress reduction, F(1, 40) = 0.27, n.s. Results of this study support the conclusion that B-Active2 is a viable leisure education program that promotes physical activity of adults with ASD and has positive effects on their well-being and risk of falls.

Effects of Tai Chi therapy on body mass index and physical index of intellectual disability

“…Based on these findings of this study, when applying Tai Chi therapy to people with intellectual disabilities, it is necessary to provide a program that is designed to show exercise effects by increasing the duration and frequency in order to increase the exercise intensity, and inducing interest to increase concentration. Also, in order to maintain the health status of intellectually disabled people with limited cognitive growth, relatively lower exercise participation rate than that of the general public due to their physical and mental limitations, and significantly reduced physical fitness (Garcia‐Villamisar et al, ; K. J. Lee et al, ), the development of programs that take into account the difficulties in intensive and dynamic physical activities is required, and various supports include health policies should be continuously provided for a long duration, so that they could voluntarily initiate their physical activities. As a policy implication, a government agency may formulate a health policy in which the facilities can introduce exercise programs like Tai Chi therapy for the health of people with intellectual disabilities throughout the country.…”

“…Furthermore, they are at a higher risk of having cardiovascular disease, as compared to people without disabilities (Elmahgoub et al, ). Regular exercise programs are recommended in order to reduce risk factors, such as obesity, serum lipids, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stress, lack of exercise, smoking, and so on (Garcia‐Villamisar, Dattilo, & Muela, ; Hardee & Fetters, ; K. Lee et al, ). Walking and light running preferred by people with intellectual disabilities are performed indoors and outdoors in daily life.…”

“…Walking and light running preferred by people with intellectual disabilities are performed indoors and outdoors in daily life. However, these movements can lead to the risk of accidents due to physical incongruity and unnatural movements (Garcia‐Villamisar et al, ; K. Lee et al, ). Moreover, walking is monotonous and it may not be appropriate as an exercise method to improve one's body function for people with intellectual disabilities (Hardee & Fetters, ; K. J. Lee et al, , ).…”

“…Walking and light running preferred by people with intellectual disabilities are performed indoors and outdoors in daily life. However, these movements can lead to the risk of accidents due to physical incongruity and unnatural movements (Garcia-Villamisar et al, 2017;K. Lee et al, 2016).…”

Physical Activity for Autistic Adults: Recommendations for a Shift in Approach

“…As research literature in autism is growing rapidly, it was not clear whether existing reviews reflected an overall absence of studies of adults or whether there were studies too recently published for inclusion. A systematic review (see Appendix A for full strategy) found six individual studies [29][30][31][32][33][34] of physical activity for autistic adults, summarised in Table 1. The present search looked for studies that included group comparisons in the case of quantitative research.…”