Traditional Filipino Games as Therapeutic Tools: Boosting Lower Extremities Gross Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Motor dysfunction in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) significantly complicates daily activities and contributes to social-behavioral challenges. While standard therapies are effective, they often lack cultural relevance or accessibility in low-resource settings. This study scrutinized the therapeutic potential of traditional Filipino games—specifically Piko and Patintero— as culturally grounded interventions to enhance lower extremity gross motor skills. Utilizing a quantitative experimental design, children with ASD (ages 6–12, GMFCS Level I) were divided into two groups. Group A (n=50) received an active range of motion exercises (AROMEs) integrated with traditional Filipino games, while Group B (n=50) received AROMEs only. Assessment was conducted via Functional Muscle Testing (FMT) to evaluate balance, coordination, and agility over a two-week intervention period. Statistical analysis employed the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test for within-group comparisons and independent samples t-tests for between-group differences. Baseline assessments indicated that both groups initially exhibited "weak functional motor performance". Post-intervention, both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in FMT scores (p < .001). Group A achieved a higher mean percentage improvement (43%) compared to Group B (32%); however, this numerical gain did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.147) within the two-week timeframe. Both conventional physical therapy and the integration of traditional Filipino games are effective in improving lower extremity motor function in children with ASD. Although no statistical superiority was found for the integrated approach, the higher numerical gains in Group A suggest that play-based, culturally familiar activities may enhance therapeutic motivation and engagement. These findings support the inclusion of traditional games as complementary tools in pediatric rehabilitation to promote functional independence and cultural preservation.