Background

Both chronic and acute exercise interventions have reported positive effects on executive functions (EFs) in general populations. However, data on changes in EFs in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in response to exercise interventions are still unclear.

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize available empirical studies concerning the effects of exercise interventions on EFs in children and adolescents with ASD.

Methods

In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guidelines, the electronic databases CINAHL Complete (via EBSCOhost), SPORTDiscus with Full Text (via EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost), Web of Science, ProQuest, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC; via EBSCOhost) were searched from inception to January 2021. Two authors independently extracted data and conducted a risk-of-bias analysis using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Randomized controlled trials/quasi-experimental designs that used acute or chronic exercise interventions and assessed EFs through neurocognitive tasks or questionnaires among children and adolescents with ASD were included. In total, 259 articles were identified, of which 15 full texts were independently assessed for eligibility by two authors. In total, 14 articles underwent systematic review, and seven were selected for meta-analysis.

Results

Overall, chronic exercise interventions had a small to moderate positive effect on overall EFs in children and adolescents with ASD (g = 0.342; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.084–0.600; p < 0.01). Regarding domain-specific EFs, chronic exercise interventions had a small to moderate positive effect on cognitive flexibility (g = 0.312; 95% CI 0.053–0.570; p < 0.01) and inhibitory control (g = 0.492; 95% CI 0.188–0.796; p < 0.01). However, our review found a non-significant effect size (g = 0.212; 95% CI − 0.088 to 0.512) on working memory.

Conclusions

Chronic exercise interventions appear to have beneficial effects on overall EFs in children and adolescents with ASD, particularly in relation to cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control.

中文翻译：

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运动干预对自闭症谱系障碍儿童和青少年执行功能的影响：系统评价和荟萃分析

背景

慢性和急性运动干预均报告了对一般人群执行功能 (EF) 的积极影响。然而，关于自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 儿童和青少年响应运动干预的 EF 变化的数据仍不清楚。

客观的

这项系统评价和荟萃分析旨在综合现有的关于运动干预对 ASD 儿童和青少年 EF 影响的实证研究。

方法

根据系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目指南，电子数据库 CINAHL Complete（通过 EBSCOhost）、SPORTDiscus with Full Text（通过 EBSCOhost）、MEDLINE（通过 EBSCOhost）、Web of Science、ProQuest 和 Education Resources信息中心（ERIC；通过 EBSCOhost）从成立到 2021 年 1 月进行了搜索。两位作者独立提取数据并使用物理治疗证据数据库量表进行了偏倚风险分析。包括使用急性或慢性运动干预并通过神经认知任务或问卷评估患有 ASD 的儿童和青少年的 EF 的随机对照试验/准实验设计。总共确定了 259 篇文章，其中 15 篇全文由两位作者独立评估是否合格。总共，

结果

总体而言，慢性运动干预对患有 ASD 的儿童和青少年的总体 EF 有小到中度的积极影响（g  = 0.342；95% 置信区间 [CI] 0.084–0.600；p  < 0.01）。关于特定领域的 EF，慢性运动干预对认知灵活性（g  = 0.312；95% CI 0.053-0.570；p  < 0.01）和抑制性控制（g  = 0.492；95% CI 0.188-0.796；p  < 0.01)。 然而，我们的审查发现对工作记忆的影响不显着（g = 0.212；95% CI - 0.088 至 0.512）。

结论

慢性运动干预似乎对患有 ASD 的儿童和青少年的整体 EFs 产生了有益的影响，特别是在认知灵活性和抑制控制方面。