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

Abstract

Physical activity is beneficial for physical and mental health in the general population. Among autistic people, a range of physical and mental health conditions, particularly depression and anxiety, occur more frequently than in the general population. Physical activity interventions could help address this, but there is a lack of research in the area. The aim of this perspectives paper is to explore research into physical activity interventions for autistic adults, and identify gaps particularly in need of addressing. This perspectives paper considers six intervention studies carried out with adults, a pilot study and seven review studies of adult and child interventions. Studies found significant increases in amount of physical activity undertaken, wellbeing, interaction, emotion and regulation. There were decreases in imitative and distress behaviours. However, there were few studies, samples were small, participants all had co-occurring intellectual disability, and measures were heterogeneous with lack of assessment of changes in physical fitness levels. Qualitative exploration was extremely limited. Recommendations are that there should be increased focus on research into physical activity for autistic adults, with input from autistic people to identify enjoyable, accessible activities, particular consideration of longer-term, sustainable activities, expanding the research to include autistic people without intellectual disability, and increasing the focus on addressing mental health and anxiety through physical activity.

An investigation of the diet, exercise, sleep, BMI, and health outcomes of autistic adults

“…Some interventions aimed to increase physical activity may reduce autism symptoms and improve some fitness and metabolic indicators [ 55 – 58 ]. Despite some evidence that autistic children, and particularly autistic girls, engage less in physical activity as they age [ 12 , 59 – 61 ], there are currently no large-scale studies that indicate whether patterns of inactivity persist into adulthood, the degree to which autistic adults engage in physical activity, or whether any interventions might be useful in increasing physical activity levels among autistic adults [ 62 ].…”

Aging Well and Autism: A Narrative Review and Recommendations for Future Research

“…Proposed areas of intervention overlap included family caregiving research, an area of need in autism research. Examples of adapted interventions from aging for IDD included health promotion interventions, dementia care, and fall prevention programs [ 133 ], but these types of interventions or physical activity programs have yet to be studied in autism [ 127 , 134 ]. However, research and practice recommendations for supporting older autistic adults in residential care have been developed [ 135 ], community participation programs across ages for autistic adults with ID are emerging [ 136 ], and self-care practices in older autistic adults have been described [ 132 ].…”

“Just Invite Us”: Autistic Adults' Recommendations for Developing More Accessible Physical Activity Opportunities

“…Hallett 12 called for a shift in approach for studying PA in autistic adults. In moving away from the praxis of ''fixing'' autism, researchers should focus on exploring suitable environments and activities, developing programs with participants in mind, and giving careful consideration to study participants.…”

“…To identify how to provide accessible supportive PA experiences, the direct input of autistic adults is also required to understand their needs. 12 Even with a growing body of literature that has sought to understand the autistic experience, most of the identified studies have lacked first-hand accounts of autistic individuals. It has been observed that those who are autistic and those who are not can have vast differences in opinions.…”