Autism Spectrum Disorder And Yoga: A Clinical Study

Abstract

Introduction:  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is being identified in an growing number of countries,¹   Research to date children with these disorder will have poor fine motor skills and the rate of fall risk are increase among these children, an effective intervention for understudied Autism Spectrum Disorder is needed. Therefore, we investigated to observe the value of Yoga intervention including fine motor skill and fall risk for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

 Objectives

• To observe the value of fine motor skill for Autism Children
• To discover the fall risk in Autism Children
• To educate and train the Autism children who are prone to fall

Methods:

Nine Autism children who are prone to fall were selected for this study. Fine Motor Assessment scale (FMAs) and Modified Berg Balance Scale (BBS - M) Pediatric Balance Scale were used for the objective measurement of children fall risk. The pre and post therapy values were statistically assessed on the effect of Yoga intervention for Autism children.

Result

The statistical analysis of Fine Motor Assessment scale (FMAs) pre- assessment mean value is 74.645, SD 6.7695 and post-treatment mean value is 111.322, S.D 6.471, t-test value of FMA is -7.872 and p value is < .00001. The Statistical analysis of Berg Balance Scale between pre-treatment mean values is 24.676, S.D is 2.1788 and post-treatment mean value is 40.222, S.D 3.6087, t-test value of BBS is 6.5865 and p value is < .00001.

 Conclusion

Yoga can be used effectively as one of the intrusion as an integrated therapy to improve fine motor skills and to prevent falls in Autism children. Rehabilitation professional may consider these interventions when treating ASD.