Physical Activity Interventions for Elementary Students With Autism: A Systematic Review

Physical activity (PA) is an evidence-based practice for individuals with autism. We conducted a systematic review of school-based PA intervention studies focused on implementation details in nonphysical education settings for elementary-aged individuals with autism. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. School-based PA interventions involved a range of activities (e.g., general gross motor movements, jogging, and cycling) in indoor and outdoor school settings. Studies reported positive impacts across a range of dependent variables (e.g., stereotypic behavior, engagement, and social/emotional outcomes). PAs appear to be relevant across settings, with intervention spaces ranging from classrooms to other school-based locations (e.g., hallways and gymnasiums) to outdoor spaces (e.g., basketball courts and fields), suggesting that educators have a range of options for PA activities. However, only six of the 25 included articles met all quality indicators for research, suggesting the need for more rigor in this area of research.