Transition of a Judo Program from In-Person to Remote Delivery During COVID-19 for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Risks and Benefits of Judo Training for Middle-Aged and Older People: A Systematic Review

This systematic overview aimed to review studies investigating the benefits and risks of judo training in older people, and to explore practical methodological applications (Registration ID: CRD42021274825). Searches of EBSCOhost, ISI-WoS, and Scopus databases, with no time restriction up to December 2022, resulted in 23 records meeting the inclusion criteria. A quality assessment was performed through the following tools: ROBINS-I for 10 experimental studies, NIH for 7 observational studies, and AGREE-II for 6 methodological studies. A serious risk of bias emerged for 70% of the experimental studies, whereas 100% of the observational and 67% of the methodological studies presented a “fair” quality. When involving 1392 participants (63 ± 12 years; females: 47%), the studies investigated novice (n = 13), amateur/intermediate (n = 4), expert (n = 4), and unknown (n = 3) level judoka by means of device-based, self-reported, and visual evaluation measures. Mean training encompassed 2 ± 1 sessions. week−1 of 61 ± 17 min for 7 ± 6 months. In relation to judo training exposure and outcomes, three main themes emerged: (i) health (56% of studies; e.g., bones, anthropometry, quality of life); (ii) functional fitness (43%; e.g., balance, strength, walking speed); and iii) psychosocial aspects (43%; e.g., fear of falling, cognition, self-efficacy). Although the included studies presented relevant methodological weaknesses, the data support the positive effects of judo training with advancing age. Future research is needed to help coaches plan judo programs for older people.

Feasibility of a Remote-based Nutrition Education and Culinary Skills Program for Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of a remote-based nutrition education and culinary skills program for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

METHODS

Thirteen young adults with ASD (26.6 ± 4.4 years; 77% male) participated in a remote-based nutrition program twice a week over 12 weeks. Principles of Social Cognitive Theory were used to develop the curriculum, which focused on nutrition education and meal preparation. Feasibility was assessed through attendance records, retention rates, duration/frequency of participant engagement, session notes, and participant interviews.

RESULTS

The program had a 13% refusal rate and a 7% attrition rate. Participants had a session attendance rate of 83%. Session notes revealed that the remote format offered several methods of participant communication and captured evidence of family support. Interview themes included increased nutrition-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavioral capability.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The remote-based nutrition program met feasibility benchmarks for adherence and retention and was well-accepted by participants. A remote-based format for nutrition interventions can reach a wider range of young adults with ASD; however, input from the target population should be considered in the development of the program.

How to Make the Unpredictable Foreseeable? Effective Forms of Assistance for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Symptomatology in patients with the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is very heterogeneous. The symptoms they present include communication difficulties, behavior problems, upbringing problems from their parents, and comorbidities (e.g., epilepsy, intellectual disability). A predictable and stable environment and the continuity of therapeutic interactions are crucial in this population. The COVID-19 pandemic has created much concern, and the need for home isolation to limit the spread of the virus has disrupted the functioning routine of children/adolescents with ASD. Are there effective diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives to limit the consequences of disturbing the daily routine of young patients during the unpredictable times of the pandemic? Modern technology and telemedicine have come to the rescue. This narrative review aims to present a change in the impact profile in the era of isolation and assess the directions of changes that specialists may choose when dealing with patients with ASD.

Zoom-delivered Physical Activities Can Increase Perceived Physical Activity Level in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Pilot Study

Although the benefits of regular physical activity are clearly expressed, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are less physically active than their typically developing peers. Recent empirical studies have revealed that the level of physical activity of children with ASD has further decreased during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has adversely affected the whole world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of a Zoom-delivered physical activities for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Twenty-two families (parent and child dyads) participated in the study. Families were assigned randomly to an experimental group (n = 11) and a control group (n = 11). Families in the experimental group were engaged in 10 weeks of the Zoom-delivered physical activities. Data were collected using multiple data collection strategies (Personal Information Form- Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire-Semi-Structured Interview). After the Zoom-delivered physical activities, a significant increase was observed in the physical activity level of children with ASD in the experimental group (F = 95.396, p = 0.000, Ƞ ²  = 0.834). Parents reported that Zoom-delivered physical activities are a viable and useful intervention to increase the level of physical activity of children with ASD. The findings suggest that Zoom-delivered physical activities merit further investigation as an intervention to increase physical activity in children with ASD.

Psychosocial and Behavioral Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Adolescents with Autism and Their Families: Overview of the Literature and Initial Data from a Multinational Online Survey

Since COVID-19 has become a pandemic, everyday life has seen dramatic changes affecting individuals, families, and children with and without autism. Among other things, these changes entail more time at home, digital forms of communication, school closures, and reduced support and intervention. Here, we assess the effects of the pandemic on quality of life for school-age autistic and neurotypical children and adolescents. First, we provide a comprehensive review of the current relevant literature. Next, we report original data from a survey conducted in several countries, assessing activities, well-being, and social life in families with autism, and their changes over time. We focus on differences between children with and without autism from within the same families, and on different outcomes for children with high- or low-functioning autism. While individuals with autism scored lower in emotional and social functioning than their neurotypical siblings, both groups of children showed comparable decreases in well-being and increases in anxiety, compared to before the pandemic. By contrast, decreases in adaptability were significantly more pronounced in autistic children and adolescents compared to neurotypical children and adolescents. Overall, although individual families reported some positive effects of pandemic restrictions, our data provide no evidence that these generalize across children and adolescents with autism, or even just to individuals with high-functioning autism. We discuss the increased challenges that need to be addressed to protect children and adolescents’ well-being under pandemic conditions, but also point out potentials in the present situation that could be used towards social participation and success in older children and young adults with autism.

Physical activity for children with autism spectrum disorder during COVID-19 pandemic

In December 2019, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China that culminated in a serious pandemic condition. Physical distancing restrictions were a significant component of the public health emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For children and youth, these restrictions included safety measures that impacted daily activities related to physical activity (PA) participation worldwide. Preliminary evidence suggests that in children with special needs such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), COVID-19 restrictions may have disproportionally led to reduced levels of PA. The aim of this study was to review the benefits of PA for children with ASD and suggest Home PA Program examples for Children with ASD during COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine time.