The Effect of Gymnastic Exercises on Motor Skills in Autistic Children

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 16 week of gymnastic exercises on motor and skills of children with autism. The statistical population consisted of autistic children in a charity centre in Karaj. Thirty autistic children 8–12 years of age, who were eligible to be included in the study, were randomly selected and assigned to two test and control groups. To evaluate motor development the short form of Bruininks-Oseretski test. The test group carried out gymnastic exercises for 16 weeks (3 sessions a week, with each session lasting for 45 minutes); the control group subjects were engaged in their daily activities during the period. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the two groups. There was a significant difference in the total motor skill scores between the two groups (P 0.05). It can be concluded from the results of the present study that gymnastic exercises might have an effective role in improving motor skills of children with autism.