The Effect of Rhythmic Movement Exercises on Visual-Spatial Memory, Cognitive ‎Flexibility and Balance of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

It seems that doing sports and physical activity can be considered as an effective intervention to improve motor and cognitive problems of children with autism spectrum. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of rhythmic movement exercises on visual-spatial memory, cognitive flexibility, and balance in children with autism spectrum disorder.

The statistical population included children with an autism spectrum disorder in Yazd city, of which 20 people (10 people in the experimental group, ten people in the control group) with the age range of 10 to 12 years were selected and by performing the seat blocks test (visual memory- spatial), Wisconsin card sorting (cognitive flexibility), modified stork test (static balance) and heel-toe walking (dynamic balance) participated in this research. The experimental group received rhythmic movement exercises for ten sessions, two sessions per week, and the control group did their daily activities. Data were analyzed with mixed ANOVA at a significance level of p<0.05.

The results showed that rhythmic movement exercises improved visual-spatial memory (23.1±1.16), cognitive flexibility (18.71±3.12), and dynamic balance (13.21±1.18) in children with autism spectrum disorder (p<0.05), but it had no significant effect on static balance (1.10±0.50; p>0.05).

According to the present study's findings, rhythmic movement exercises can be used as a suitable intervention to improve the movement and cognitive problems of children with autism spectrum