Effect of Aquatic Training on Motor Function in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT ID: NCT05123066

Last Updated: 2025-12-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-10-20

Brief Summary

Clinically, infants with Autism Spectrum Disorder often display gross motor delays in supine, prone, and sitting skills in their first year of life . Studies reveal that motor abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorder can occur very early in developmental trajectory.

Detailed Description

Hydrotherapy is an environment that may be conducive to encouraging physical activity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The buoyancy of water can assist with movement, balance, and coordination .Water also provides an opportunity for social interaction through aquatic games and activities.Based on the literature, Aquatic therapy appears to be particularly beneficial for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who need strong sensory stimulation.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Aquatic group

group I

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Aquatic Exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

These 3 sets were the following:

Set 1: warming up exercise as floating exercise 24 Set 2: Standing education/training Set 3: Walking education/training

The exercises will be conducted taking in consideration safety measures as:

1. Each participant will use Noodles to ensure safety.

2. Each participant will train individually to ensure safety and avoid distraction.

3. Each participant will use special swimming suit in case of lack of bowel and/or bladder control.

Land Exersises group

group II

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Land Exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

All participants were physical therapy intervention according to their level of functional impairment :

Interventions

Aquatic Exercises

These 3 sets were the following:

Set 1: warming up exercise as floating exercise 24 Set 2: Standing education/training Set 3: Walking education/training

The exercises will be conducted taking in consideration safety measures as:

1. Each participant will use Noodles to ensure safety.

2. Each participant will train individually to ensure safety and avoid distraction.

3. Each participant will use special swimming suit in case of lack of bowel and/or bladder control.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Land Exercises

All participants were physical therapy intervention according to their level of functional impairment :

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ranges from 3 to 5 years.
• Mild to moderate autistic features according to GARS (scores from 60 to 110).

Exclusion Criteria

• Significant visual or auditory defects.
• History of cerebral palsy or psychiatric disorder (e.g attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
• Open wound.
• Dermatological diseases

• Minimum Eligible Age: 3 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 5 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Cairo University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Amira Mahmoud Abd-elmonem

Assist Prof. physical therapy for pediatric department, faculty of physical therappy

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Amira M ABD-ELMONEM, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University

MAI E ABBASS, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University

AMR A OTHMAN, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University

Locations

Eman S Albadry

Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt

Countries

Egypt

Other Identifiers

AQUATIC TRAINING

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id