Physical fitness of children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorder: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the body of knowledge on the physical fitness of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in comparison with their typically developing peers. Method: This systematic review included observational studies published in English that involved children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD and assessed components of physical fitness. The searches were conducted in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and LILACS databases, and the methodological quality of the studies was analyzed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Results: A total of 7,347 articles were retrieved in the initial searches, and nine were included after the eligibility criteria were applied. The findings showed that the physical fitness of children and adolescents with ASD was significantly lower than that of their typically developing peers. Conclusion: Based on the evidence gathered from nine observational studies classified as moderate to high quality, children and adolescents with ASD showed lower physical fitness than their typically developing peers when assessed through physical fitness tests.