Syed Hojat Zamani Sani, Vahid Hasanpour, Zahra Fathi Rezaei, Amir Ghiamirad,
Volume 11, Issue 21 (7-2021)
Abstract
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), as a developmental neurological condition, has increased in recent years. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-motor exercises on the improvement of some large and delicate motor skills of children with autism based on Gentile's Two-Stage Model. In the present Semi-experimental study, one of the rehabilitation centers under the supervision of Tehran Welfare Organization was selected as via the convenience sampling method and 20 children aged 6-10 years with autism were randomly divided into two homogeneous experimental and control groups. The subjects in the experimental group participated in a six-week training protocol (three sessions per week). Each session was made up of 60 minutes of cognitive-motor exercises based on Gentile’s model. Bruininks-Oseretsky subtests of motor proficiency were employed for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using the repeated measures ANOVA. The results indicated that after cognitive-motor training, running and agility skills, static and dynamic balance, upper limb coordination and response speed in the experimental group increased significantly (p<0.05). As the findings showed, cognitive-motor exercises designed as a useful method can be used to rehabilitate the fine and gross motor skills of children with autism.
Hanieh Ghasemian Moghadam, Hasan Mohamadzadeh,
Volume 15, Issue 30 (12-2025)
Abstract
Aim: Childhood is considered a critical period for developing motor skills through appropriate physical exercises, which ultimately enhance brain function and performance. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of sensory–motor exercises with a game sense approach on executive and motor control in children with learning disorder.
Methods: This quasi-experimental, applied research employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included 36 female children with learning disorder (mean age = 8.39 ± 0.49 years) who were recruited from learning disorder centers in Mashhad and randomly assigned to two intervention groups (sensory–motor with a game sense approach, sensory–motor with a goal-oriented approach) and one control group. The intervention groups participated in sensory–motor integration training twice a week for eight weeks (60 minutes per session). During this period, the control group continued their usual activities. Executive control (inhibitory control) and motor control (gross motor skills) were assessed before and after the intervention using the Stroop Test and the Burininks-Oseretsky Test, respectively.
Results: A mixed MANOVA showed that sensory–motor exercises with a game sense approach significantly improved executive and motor control across all variables compared to the control group. In comparison with the goal-oriented group, improvements were observed only in running speed and agility (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Sensory–motor exercises based on a play-oriented approach can serve as an effective intervention to enhance executive and motor control in children with learning disorder.
