Background: Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders tend to participate in less physical activity. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to physical activity participation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on parental reports. Methods: The sample comprised 370 children and adolescents with ASD, aged 8–20 years. Simple random sampling was selected. We designed a questionnaire and used the survey method for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results revealed several barriers to physical activity participation: interpersonal barriers were the top priority, followed by friends and peers as well as psychological factors as the second and third priorities. Additionally, family, cognition, management and planning, social and cultural factors, and skills were identified as the fourth through eighth barriers, respectively. Conclusions: Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing effective school- and community-based strategies to promote physical activity participation.

Visual impairment is one of the most common functional impairments that considerably affects the postural control process and the ability to maintain balance. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review concerning the effects of balance and core stability training on postural control in individuals who are visually impaired. This article comprehensively reviewed studies on balance in individuals who are blind from the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus from 2007 to 2021. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were people who were blind or visually impaired (acquired and congenital), men and women, all ages, and at least 6 weeks balance or core stability training program. Twelve articles were included in this review. Individuals with visual impairment and blindness from all ages were included in this study. According to this review, all balance and core stability protocols in this article have positive effects on balance and postural control for individuals with visual impairments. Therefore, balance and core stability intervention for at least 6 weeks is one of the more well-established protocols for improving balance and postural control in people with visual impairment and can have a positive impact in risk of falling regardless of age, gender, or severity of visual impairment.

The Annals of Applied Sport Science (AASS) follows a rigorous peer-review process for the submission of all articles. AASS publishes not only original articles and review articles but also editorials and short communications in the sport sciences. The Journal is published quarterly in electronic editions. The editorial policy of The Annals of Applied Sport Science (AASS) follows the multi-disciplinary purposes of the sport science to promote the highest standards of scientific study referring to the following fields: a) Sport Physiology, b) Sport Management, c) Kinesiology and Sport Injuries, d) Sport Psychology and Motor Control, e) Sport Biomechanics, and its related branches. The emphasis of the Journal is on the human sciences, broadly defined, and applied to sport and exercise that is defined inclusively to refer to all forms of human movement that aim to maintain or improve physical and mental well-being, create or improve social relationships, or obtain results in competition at all levels. The Journal publishes original research as well as review articles. AASS invites the submission of original research articles and reviews of the sport science literature from sport scientists and scholars throughout the world. All research articles and review papers have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymized (double-blind) refereeing by three reviewers (a statistical and two scientific reviewers). نشريه وقايع علوم کاربردی ورزش (AASS) از طريق يک فرآيند داوری دقيق به بررسی همه مقالات واصله اقدام می‌کند. نشريه AASS نه تنها مقاله اصيل و مقاله مروری بلکه حتی سرمقاله و مقاله کوتاه در زمينه علوم ورزشی را منتشر خواهد نمود. اين نشريه بطور فصلنامه و در نسخه‌های الکترونيک انتشار می‌يابد. سياست سردبيری نشريه وقايع علوم کاربردی ورزش از اهداف چندمبحثی علوم ورزشی پيروی می‌کند تا بالاترين استانداردهای مطالعه علمی را در زمينه‌هايی از قبيل ا و شاخه‌های وابسته بدان ارتقاء دهد. تأکيد نشريه بر علوم انسانی، و به معنای گسترده، علوم کاربردی برای ورزش و تمرين است، و بر پايه يک تعريف جامع برمی‌گردد به همه اَشکال حرکات انسانی که به قصد حفظ يا بهبود بهزيستی جسمانی و ذهنی، ايجاد يا بهبود روابط اجتماعی، يا کسب نتايج در همه سطوح از رقابت‌ها انجام می‌شود. اين نشريه علاوه بر تحقيقات اصيل، مقالات...

Purpose: Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have delays in developing motor skills and social behaviors compared to typically developed children. Various exercise program can improve social and motor behaviors of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. There is no consensus among researchers about how aquatic exercise effects of individuals with ASD. The purpose of this study is the comprehensively reviews the impacts of aquatic exercise on motor skills and social behaviors among children and adolescents with ASD. Methods: This systematic review is based on the PRISMA guidelines. The following criteria was used to determine acceptance into this review: the participants were children and adolescents with ASD, the experimental program was involved aquatic exercise program, and all studies were peer-reviewed English publications from 2002 to 2022. Results: After applying exclusion criteria, a total of 9 studies were identified. Analysis indicated that various aquatic programs including hydrotherapy and traditioanl swimming activities can improve motor skill levels and social behaviors in children and adolescents with ASD. Optimal duration of aquatic programs appears to be at least 8 weeks for a minimum of two times per week for 30 minutes per session. Conclusion: Results of this analysis suggest that physical therapists and physical educators should recommend this intervention when appropriate, and consider developing community-based aquatic exercise programs.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder identified by deficits in social skills, communication and repetitive or restricted behavior [1]. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders show delays in motor development and deficits in motor skills and also lack of engagement in physical activities [2].