Abstract
Despite strong evidence in favor of physical activity (PA), adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not meeting established PA guidelines to engage in at least 150 min of moderate to vigorous PA per week. Barriers to daily PA engagement include limited access to health services, transportation, and reduced self-determined motivation. Telehealth provides a potential alternative to deliver PA programming in a more accessible platform for adults with ASD. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed the preliminary efficacy of a 10-week PA intervention program called Physical Activity Connections via Telehealth (PACT) that utilized telehealth and remote technology, including Fitbit wearable device use, peer-guidance, and individualized home exercise program among adults with ASD. Primary health outcomes, collected at baseline before randomization and post-intervention, included self-determined motivation assessment via Behavioral Exercise Regulation Scale (BREQ-2), self-report PA via Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (GSLT-PAQ), steps per day PA via Fitbit device, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR). A total of 18 adults, 11 males, with a mean age of 26.4 years, with a primary diagnosis of ASD participated in the study. Although there were no changes in BMI or WtHR at post-intervention, participants receiving PACT, significantly increased both their self-report PA scores (GSLT-PAQ) from 26 to 68, (p = 0.002), and steps per day from 5,828 to 7,443, (p = 0.015) with a moderate effect size (d = 0.72). The results of this pilot study support peer supported telehealth-based PA intervention for adults with ASD to increase PA.
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Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
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The authors wish to thank the NSU and FIU DPT students for their commitment to the research study and parents/caregivers of participants for their unwavering support. This study was conducted without external funding.
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All procedures performed involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This study was approved by the Nova Southeastern University Review Board (IRB # 2020–439) and an External IRB for oversight (TOPAZ Reference #110033) from Florida International University.
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Nunez-Gaunaurd, A., Tovin, M. Promoting Physical Activity Through Telehealth, Peer Support, and Wearables: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Among Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Dev Phys Disabil (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-024-09951-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-024-09951-x