Autism spectrum disorder, motor skill difficulties, and therapeutic intervention with Exergaming: A narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i2.1147Keywords:
Autism Spectrum Disorder; Motor Skills Disorders; Exergaming.Abstract
Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is classified as a human neurodevelopmental disorder that presents uniquely in each individual, potentially affecting behaviors involving communication, speech, social interaction, and motor functions. In this context, diverse functional impairments are observed in this population. Objective: To analyze, through a narrative review, the impact of exergaming as a therapeutic intervention tool on the motor skills of individuals with ASD. Methods: The search was conducted in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases. A timeframe from 2000 to 2025 was used, including studies in Portuguese and English. Keywords were consulted in the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): "Autism Spectrum Disorder", "Exergaming", and "Motor Skills Disorders". Experimental studies and systematic reviews on motor interventions via virtual reality were included, while case reports and studies focused exclusively on pharmacology were excluded. Results: The screening resulted in the selection of 30 articles. Data indicate that exergames promote significant improvements in balance, executive functions, motor coordination, and agility. The combination of visual and playful stimuli facilitated motor learning and the integration of sensory-motor experiences. Conclusion: Exergaming constitute an effective and viable therapeutic tool for Physical Therapy, assisting in overcoming adherence barriers. This study reinforces the need for standardized protocols to consolidate the use of this technology in clinical practice.
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