Effect Of Ball Tapping and Jogging on Specific Stereotypical Behaviour in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit stereotypical behaviors, such as repetitive movements and routines, which can significantly affect their daily functioning. Addressing these behaviors is essential to improving their quality of life. Motor-based interventions like ball tapping and jogging have been shown to help regulate sensory processing and reduce stereotypical behaviors in children with ASD. Understanding the impact of these activities on reducing such behaviors is critical for developing effective therapeutic strategies.
Study Design: Experimental study.
Aim: To assess the effect of ball tapping and jogging on specific stereotypical behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Objectives:
• To assess self-injurious behavior, stereotypical behavior, and aggressive/destructive behavior in children with ASD.
• To evaluate the impact of ball tapping and jogging on reducing self-injurious behavior, stereotypical behaviors, and aggressive/destructive behavior in children with ASD.
• To compare the experimental and control groups in reducing stereotypical behaviors.
Participants: A total of 28 children (n=28) aged 9-14 years, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, participated in the study.
Methods: Children were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (n=14) and a control group (n=14). The experimental group participated in a combination of ball tapping, jogging, and tactile-proprioception activities, while the control group engaged in tactile-proprioception and vestibular activities along with physical exercises. Behavioral data were collected at baseline and after a 2-month intervention.
Results: The experimental group showed significant reductions in self-injurious behavior (SIB), stereotypical behavior (SB), and aggressive/destructive behavior (ADB), with SIB decreasing from 9.21 to 7, SB from 44.93 to 39.64, and ADB from 9.07 to 7.07. Strong Pearson correlations supported these reductions (SIB: 0.910, SB: 0.966, ADB: 0.967). In contrast, the control group showed smaller, less consistent reductions. Statistical analysis confirmed the intervention's effectiveness, with p-values ≤ 0.001.
Conclusion: Ball tapping and jogging interventions were effective in reducing stereotypical behaviors in children with ASD. The experimental group demonstrated more consistent improvements compared to the control group. These findings suggest that ball tapping and jogging may be beneficial in managing challenging behaviors in children with ASD, although the improvements were modest.