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Exercise and Adults with an ASD. Tricia Coulthard & Jonathon Lee Innovate Trust Cardiff Ail Gynhadledd Ryngwladol Cymru ar Awtistiaeth Caerdydd Mai 2006. Why have a workshop on exercise and adults with an ASD? 1. Exercise & sports opportunities maybe lost after schooldays
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Exercise and Adults with an ASD Tricia Coulthard & Jonathon Lee Innovate Trust Cardiff Ail Gynhadledd Ryngwladol Cymru ar Awtistiaeth Caerdydd Mai 2006 Tricia Coulthard
Why have a workshop on exercise and adults with an ASD? 1 • Exercise & sports opportunities maybe lost after schooldays • Children with an ASD have low levels of physical fitness, Auxter et al 1997. • How about adults? • Overweight? • Motivation • Effects of sensory deficits Tricia Coulthard
Why have a workshop on exercise and adults with an ASD? 2 • Adults with an ASD may have a poor understanding of health and benefits of exercise • Holistic view /development of whole person • Research documents its positive effects. Exercise is one of the most effective yet under-used treatments for individuals with an ASD (Edelson www.autism.org/exercise.html) • Exercise recommended by individuals with an ASD. Jackson 2002: Hawthorne www.autismtoday.com/articles/autism_exercise.html Tricia Coulthard
Benefits of Exercise for the General Population Health Challenge Wales 2005 • Well being • Lose/ control weight/ Improved appearance • Lower risk of heart disease/ stroke/ some cancers • Improve confidence • Improves sleep • Opportunities for Socialising • Fitness • Enjoyment Tricia Coulthard
Benefits of Exercise for those with an ASD 1 • Expand their world & develop their social/ planning skills • Develop competence in wide range of settings Rutter 2006 • Increase flexibility, balance, agility, strength NCPAD 2005 • Improve sensory integration NCPAD 2005 • Improve muscle tone: Nance-Dewar 2001 Tricia Coulthard
Benefits of Exercise for those with an ASD 2 • Increase in cardio-respiratory function Yilmaz et al (2004)Lochbaum & Crews (2003) • Reduction in stereotypical behaviours Rosenthal-Malek & Mitchell (1997) • Increase ability to focus/ concentrate: Rutter 2006, Reid et al 1988:Levinson & Reid 1993:Nance-Dewar 2001 • Regular exercise may inhibit seizure activity Durstine & Moore 2003 Tricia Coulthard
Types of Exercise? 1 • Exercise needs to be vigorous to be effective for people with an ASD (vigorous antecedent exercise Elliot R,.O et al 1994: Cilliberti et al 1997; Levinson & Reid 1993) • Exercise science seeks to develop and maintain cardio-respiratory fitness and muscular fitness BUT • There are benefits gained from yoga – focusing and calming Throniker Barcelona 1996; anecdotal on web sites Lamb 2004; Gunstone 2006, Chessick 2006 Tricia Coulthard
Types of Exercise? 2 AND • Exercise does not have to be sport based to be vigorous • How about housework, gardening and dance? • May have additional rewards/ benefits • May provide opportunities for improving and developing: the person’s environment, new skills, self confidence, self image and diet Tricia Coulthard
Planning ExerciseWhat needs to be considered? BARRIERS • Personal • Environmental • ASD RESOURCES • Staff • Equipment PROGRAMMES • Person Centred Planning • Goal setting • Monitoring progress • Evaluation Enjoyment Tricia Coulthard
Model for Exercise Activity Rutter 2006 Appropriate exercise activities need to be • Autism specific • Flexible • Ongoing • Strategic • Needs led • Covering range of need Tricia Coulthard
Acknowledgements Mandy Rutter Jackie Throniker Participants Tricia Coulthard