Comparing the effects of fine, gross, and fine-gross motor exercises on the motor competence of 6–12 year-old autistic children: A quasi-experimental study with a follow-up test

Abstract

Purpose

It has been reported that most of the autistic children suffer from developmental delays in motor skills. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of Fine, Gross, and Fine-Gross Motor Exercises on the gross and fine motor skills and the motor competence of 6–12 year-old autistic children.

Method

60 autistic children were included in the study and randomly divided into three experimental groups and one control group. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Competence was conducted in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up (two months later). The experimental groups received the intervention of their group in three sessions per week for three months, 30 sessions, each lasting for 45 min.

Results

motor competence score in the gross-fine motor and gross-motor groups improved significantly in the post-test. In addition, the gross-fine motor group received significantly a higher score in post-test and follow up. This improvement in the gross-fine motor group resulted from improving gross and fine motor skills, while the gross-motor group only improved gross motor skills.

Conclusion

Overall, the gross-fine motor exercise probably positively affected the motor abilities underlying gross and fine motor skills. Hence, this type of exercise program is suggested to be used for autistic children.