Sport and physical activity for children with autism

For children with autism, fitness is essential and difficult. About two-thirds of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders are overweight or obese, according to a study published in Finding Balance: Obesity and Children with special needs, in 2011 by AbilityPath.org, a community with special needs posted online. The report analyzes data from interviews Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) National Health and health professionals and parents of children and young people with special needs. Another published study in 2010 found that "young people with autism and Down syndrome were to be two to three times more likely to be overweight than adolescents in the general population."

For what? Children with autism have a strong aversion to the texture, taste and color of certain foods, limiting his power. One study found that children in the spectrum of refused food over two times more than normal children and children with autism more sugary drinks and non-autistic children who frequently consumed foods. Medications to treat the symptoms of autism can also lead to weight gain.

In addition, children with autism may find difficult physical fitness and activity. Hypersensitivity images, sounds and tactile stimuli influence participation, such as borders or delays in motor coordination and planning can. Team sports can especially for autistic children who have problems with communication and social interaction have to be difficult.

Benefits of Fitness

Even in the face of these challenges, it is important ways to help children with autism to try and even gym. Exercise can prevent or reverse weight gain, and also has therapeutic benefits. Depending on the program and the type of physical activity, the involvement of sensory integration, coordination and muscle tone, and social skills can help.

. The various forms of exercise benefits children with autism specifically aerobics can help reduce the harmful self-stimulatory behaviors, and offers the same level of health increases, as it can for the neuro children and adults: weight loss and heart health. The exercise that improves flexibility can help to solve problems to low muscle tone. Bodybuilding, the core muscles of a child, which in turn helps to build balance and coordination.

The following sport and physical activity can be used for children with autism good (but by no means an exhaustive list, and each child will have different abilities, likes and dislikes)

• Pool water provides a soothing sensory input, and the kids can participate individually, while part of a team.
• Martial Arts: The classes are very structured in general and progress is both predictable and growing season.
• Athletics and Cross Country: As with the pool, a children compete as individuals and as a team, with little necessary communication between team members.
• Riding: Some children with autism and even great advantage to communicate with animals, makes sports fun and therapeutic riding.

Find a sports and fitness program for autistic children

Ask caregivers, teachers and therapists for your child. If your child already see a physical therapist or occupational therapist, he or she will. Capable of exercises and activities that you can do at home You can also ask the staff at your child and other parents of autistic children in sports leagues and other programs to try. See resource list below, too.

Once you've identified some ways, if the program is right for your child. You want to make sure that the technician is trained to work with autistic children. Education should be social as well as physical stress and trainer and the employee must be patient and willing to provide routine and repetition skills.

If you have a program that does find it interesting to try it, remember that it may not work for your child (which is the same for neurotic children). Having a mentor or friend can sometimes be a big help for a child in a new activity.

Leagues, programs and other resources for autism and Fitness

See the list of the most popular sports apparel; click on one to learn more about the sport, including proposals for players with special needs. Or follow the links below to sports leagues and especially for children with special needs developed programs.

For more options and resources, The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability try, which has a searchable list of hundreds of programs and adaptive sports facilities (tennis, fishing, scuba diving and much more).

_Sources:

_{Finding Balance: Obesity and Children with special needs. AbilityPath.org, November 2011.}

_{Rimmer JH, Yamaki KK, Lowry B, Wang EE, and L. Vogel, obesity and complications with obesity in adolescents with intellectual / developmental disorder. Sheet Intellectual Disability Research, 54 (9), joined in 2010.}

_{Bandini LG, Anderson SE, et al. Food selectivity in children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 157 (2), 259-264, 2010.}