A review of 11 clinical trials finds that organized sports programs meaningfully improve motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorder — with martial arts and aquatic training showing the strongest, most consistent gains.
The research
The analysis, published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, was led by corresponding author Sonia Khurana, PT, PhD, of Old Dominion University. Her team pooled data from 11 clinical trials of structured sports interventions, measuring changes in motor skills using standardized assessments across multiple domains: balance, locomotion, object control, bilateral coordination, and total motor scores.
More than half of children with autism spectrum disorder experience co-occurring motor impairments, affecting gait, postural stability, and fine or gross coordination. The review examined how different sports might address these challenges.
Martial arts — particularly Tai Chi Chuan and kata programs — produced consistently large improvements in balance, total motor skills, and object control. Aquatic training (hydrotherapy and organized swimming) showed large, uniform gains across balance, locomotion, and object manipulation. Gymnastics and trampoline training improved balance and bilateral coordination, with trampoline studies also boosting total motor scores. Table tennis drove broad gross motor improvements, while Australian football had a large effect on object control and a medium effect on balance and total motor skills.
Across every sport category and all 11 trials, balance emerged as the most consistently improved motor domain.
Why it matters
Motor skills are not just about sports — they are foundational to how the brain coordinates movement, senses space, and builds the neural pathways that support attention, planning, and learning. Balance, in particular, is a window into cerebellar and vestibular function, systems that also play roles in focus and cognitive control.
The findings suggest that organized sports can be a practical, accessible way to support motor development in children with autism. The authors emphasize these programs are not replacements for individualized physical or occupational therapy, but valuable evidence-based adjuncts. While the results are promising, many included studies had limitations, and the team calls for larger, randomized controlled trials to establish standardized clinical guidelines.
What you can do
- Explore balance-focused activities: Tai Chi, swimming, or gymnastics challenge postural control in a structured, repeatable way — the exact pattern linked to the largest gains.
- Look for repetition and rhythm: The most effective programs (Tai Chi, kata) rely on slow, deliberate, repetitive movement that reinforces spatial awareness and body control.
- Talk to a professional: If you are considering a sports program for a child with autism, discuss it with their physical or occupational therapist to complement — not replace — existing supports.
Source: Neuroscience News
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