The effect of training in water with and without Dolphin on gross motor skills of 8 years old children with autism spectrum disorder

The aim of present study was survey the effect of training in water with and without Dolphin on gross motor skills of 8 years old children with Autism disorder spectrum. The subjects included 10 children (8 years old) who suffered with Autism spectrum disorder in Kish Island; who, assigned randomly to training in water with dolphin and training in water without dolphin groups. Bruininks-Oseretsky test was used for data collection. After pre-test according to Bruininks-Oseretsky test, subjects of both groups, practiced SPARK motor program for 16 sessions. The first group swam with dolphins after doing correct SPARK motor program; while, in the same time, other group training in water without dolphin. After training period, subjects participated in Bruininks-Oseretsky test. The analysis of data by ANCOVA showed that, there was significant difference in balance, strength and coordination of upper limbs factors (P0.05). The comparison of total score on gross motor skills according to total point of every subtest showed significant difference in training in water with dolphin with training in water without dolphin groups (P