Citation

Spratt E, Lemme N, Tabaddor RR, Salko P (2019) Balance in Transitional Age Youth with Autism Spectrum and Neurodevelopmental Disorders during a 6-Week Comprehensive Wellness Program. Int J Sports Exerc Med 5:137. doi.org/10.23937/2469-5718/1510137

Copyright

© 2019 Spratt E, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

RESEARCH ARTICLE | OPEN ACCESS DOI: 10.23937/2469-5718/1510138

Balance in Transitional Age Youth with Autism Spectrum and Neurodevelopmental Disorders during a 6-Week Comprehensive Wellness Program

Eve Spratt, MD, MSCR1*, Carrie Papa1, Conner McDonald, COM2, Martina Mueller, PhD3, Nicole Gribben, MPH-PAPH, PhD Student4, Carolyn Peterseim, COM32, Mary Ashley Mercer, MD1, Ali Serpe, MD5, Tatiana Baier, PhD6 and Janis Newton6

1Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, USA

2College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, USA

3College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, USA

4Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, USA

5Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA

6Wellness Center, Medical University of South Carolina, USA

Abstract

Young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at an increased risk of poor balance and coordination due to sensory deficits. Specifically, reactive postural control impairments have been well documented among individual's with ASD, however, research suggests that interventions can improve these associated deficiencies. The Piece It Together (PIT) program is a community-based comprehensive program designed to provide wellness opportunities among teens and young adults with ASD and other mild Neurodevelopmental Deficits (ND). The PIT curriculum includes exercise, nutrition, stress management, and socialization with a focus on strength and endurance training geared towards improving everyday functioning through the increase of awareness and participation in daily healthy lifestyle behaviors. Twenty participants, aged 14-29, attended 90-minute classes at the MUSC Wellness Center twice a week for six weeks and were encouraged to increase their physical activity daily. The mini-Balance Evaluations Systems Test (miniBEST) was administered during the first and last class session to assess balance changes among all study participants over the 6-weeks. Results showed significantly improved balance scores at the end of the program, from 23.9 to 25.2 (p = 0.028). Overall, the 6-week PIT program successfully improved balance and coordination in teens and young adults with ASD or mild ND.