Beyond Boundaries Physical Fitness and the Autism Population

What is Fitness? Fitness is the ability to successfully engage in a variety of activities and challenges in daily life and athletic pursuits. Through fitness we can develop a joy of movement and a greater awareness of our own bodies Physical activity aids in the prevention of numerous diseases and imbalances

Movement Deficits and Autism - Provost (2007), McDuffie (2007), Milne (2006), Rinehart (2006), and Vernazza-Martin (2005) all reported gross motor deficits in children with autism when compared with neurotypical peers - Gross motor deficits become muscular imbalances, inhibiting and distorting posture, gait, and the ability to engage in dynamic activities - - Just because a child CAN perform a movement does not mean they are performing it CORRECTLY

Common deficits in ASD Odd/imbalanced gait Low tone Weak/inhibited posterior chain Trunk stability Hip flexibility Poor tolerance of extended periods of activity

The Benefits of (good) Fitness Programs Development of movement patterns and kinesthetic awareness Can (over time) aid in the correction of muscular imbalances and weaknesses Instills a lifestyle conducive to optimal performance in a variety of situations Self-efficacy, Self-determination, Self- esteem

Able and Engaged!

The Special Needs Athlete Focus on “BIG” gross motor movements 5 basic categories of movement: Pushing Pulling Rotation Level change Locomotion

Designing a program Select exercises that fulfill all 5 movements Begin with the simplest exercises and progress in complexity as they are mastered Be creative and fun. There is not just one exercise for each movement goal; there are many, many options

Pulling in one of its many variations

Motivation and Reinforcement Pairing exercise with known reinforcers is the KEY to a successful and long-term program Behavior-specific praise results in mastery occurring sooner Exercise programs should be introduced gradually at the physical and cognitive pace of the athlete A balance should exist between mastered targets that are used in the program and current teaching targets

Teaching new movements Physical prompts are often necessary, but should be faded as quickly as possible to facilitate independent mastery Verbal cues/prompts should be minimal, ideally the Sd, for example, “Do a jumping jack” should be the only verbal exchange (apart from verbal praise) Imitation/mirroring is the ultimate prompt. Imitation requires visual focus, concept formation, and parallel play skills

The Essentials Fitness is not about being good at a sport, it benefits all aspects of life from general health to cognitive functioning to social reciprocity General movements must ALWAYS be developed before focusing on sport-specific skills Fitness programs should focus on 5 basic movement patterns and address individual deficits and skills Fitness programs should be developed with specific goals in mind Exercise programs should incorporate principles of positive reinforcement and behavior-specific praise It is not about AN exercise, it is about eliciting the movement pattern If you are teaching exercise, you should be doing some yourself as well.

The Beginning “Fitness builds futures”