Behavioural Improvements in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder after Participation in an Adapted Judo Programme Followed by Deleterious Effects during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Jose Morales, David H. Fukuda, Vanessa Garcia, Emanuela Pierantozzi, Cristina Curto, Josep O. Martínez-Ferrer, Antonia M. Gómez, Eduardo Carballeira and Myriam Guerra-Balic
Additional contact information
Jose Morales: Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
David H. Fukuda: School of Kinesiology & Physical Therapy, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Vanessa Garcia: Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Emanuela Pierantozzi: School of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Genoa, 17100 Genoa, Italy
Cristina Curto: Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Josep O. Martínez-Ferrer: Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Antonia M. Gómez: Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Eduardo Carballeira: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of A Coruna, 15179 Oleiros, Spain
Myriam Guerra-Balic: Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Sport Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-11

Abstract: The public health lockdown prompted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which included school closures that may have potentially serious consequences for people with disabilities or special educational needs, disrupted an ongoing adapted judo training intervention in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to compare repetitive behaviours, social interaction, social communication, emotional responses, cognitive style and maladaptive speech scores across four time-points: baseline, after an eight-week control period, after an eight-week judo intervention and after an eight-week lockdown period due to COVID-19. The sample consisted of 11 children diagnosed with ASD according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—Fifth Edition (DSM-V), with an intelligence quotient (IQ) range between 60 and 70. Significant improvements were shown following the judo intervention period compared to the baseline and control periods. However, the same values significantly declined during the COVID-19 lockdown period resulting in values lower than those recorded at baseline, and following the control period and the judo intervention. The decline in psychosocial and behavioural scores are likely due to the stress caused by the sudden halt in activity and the increase in sedentary practices associated with the lockdown.

Keywords: ASD; Autism; adapted judo programme; exercise intervention; physical activity; COVID-19; lockdown; GARS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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