Summer is flying by too quickly. Lots of bike-riding, art and music therapy on
Saturdays, and whatever else we can pack in during the season. And the newest addition to our repertoire—swimming! Another special-needs parent clued me in to
Angelfish Therapy, an organization that provides aquatic therapy, swimming
instruction, and even a three-week summer camp. So my husband and I decided to
sign our son up for weekly swimming lessons.
After the first lesson, our son said, “I love
swimming.” But by the second class, the
beginner frights set in. When the
instructor tried letting him go in the water, our son yelped and screamed,
“NOOOO!” So he seems anxious yet thrilled by the water.
It is well known that physical activity is
beneficial for typically-developing adults and children. But strong evidence
indicates that exercise can improve motor deficits, stereotypies and
social skills for children with autism spectrum disorder. What’s more, some research suggests that
exercise has positive effects on communication and sensory skills, too.
Many children with ASD have motor skills impairments and are less active than typically-developing children. Other factors such as cost, access to particular programs
and weight gain (e.g. side effect from medication use) can affect exercise for
children with developmental disorders. But,
with the appropriate support, physical activity can benefit students with
disabilities both inside and outside the classroom.
For instance, in a recent study in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, researchers
pooled 16 studies where adults and children with ASD engaged in sports such as
horseback riding, weight lifting and jogging.
Based on the earlier findings, they found that physical activity is
linked to improved motor and social skills for participants with ASD.
In addition, a 2010 review study suggests that exercise
is related to decreases in disruptive behavior such as stereotypies (e.g. rocking, arm
flapping) and increases in positive behaviors (e.g. better focusing, academic
performance). Also, some evidence indicates that vigorous exercise may enhance these improvements compared with mild exercise.
Some experts theorize that the reduction in stereotypic behaviors
may be due to fatigue or the physical stimulation that exercise
provides. However, more research is
needed to determine how physical activity affects people across the spectrum including type and how long the effects last.
Motor and social skills deficits make certain sports more challenging than others. Many children with ASD may choose individual activities
(e.g. running) compared with team sport activities (e.g.
soccer). We chose swimming lessons for
our son for similar reasons—and it’s fun!
Our son has had some anxiety attacks in the past, so
we went with a program that specializes in helping children with special
needs. However, there are many affordable options available for starting a workout regimen for children with ASD.
Autism
and Aquatic Exercise
Swimming is one of the most popular forms of
therapeutic activities for people with autism spectrum disorder. Research is limited on the effects of
swimming or aquatic therapy on children with ASD. But some studies suggest that aquatic
exercises promote better daily living activities and body function for children
with other disabilities such as cerebral palsy.
Aquatic exercises are low-impact yet provide enough resistance
for building up muscles and aerobic capacity. And
some research indicates that this form of exercise may improve social skills, swimming ability and endurance
levels for children with ASD.
For instance, a 2008 study in Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, researchers recruited 16 children with various developmental disabilities including autism for a
14-week aquatic aerobic exercise program. The children, ages 6 to 11, performed activities such as relay races, swam laps and strengthening exercises (e.g. bar bells). Researchers measured factors such as heart rate and muscle strength.
At the end of the program, the results showed participants improved their exercise capacity including longer periods of physical activity within their training heart rate.
I’m looking forward to watching our son transform from a nervous novice into a fearless fish during these lessons. And the rest of the time? My husband and I are scanning our brains for activities that tire a six-year-old without doing the same to us. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
At the end of the program, the results showed participants improved their exercise capacity including longer periods of physical activity within their training heart rate.
I’m looking forward to watching our son transform from a nervous novice into a fearless fish during these lessons. And the rest of the time? My husband and I are scanning our brains for activities that tire a six-year-old without doing the same to us. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
I am very wary of Angelfish Therapy. I've not heard great things, and I recently heard from another therapist that a child was horribly overstimmed at their camp. It sounded very unorganized and poorly run.
ReplyDeleteHi JanetD:
DeleteThank you for your comment. I am sorry to hear about the negative experience with Angelfish. It is always heartbreaking to hear about these type of situations. Unfortunately, not every therapist, organization or class is the right fit for every child with special needs. While my son had a favorable experience with Angelfish, we have had situations where I or my husband would get into shouting matches on the phone with other providers/organizations that failed to meet my son's needs. Barring truly abusive situations, unfortunately, it is really trial and error. Thank you again for your feedback.