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Sensory-Friendly Physical Activity for Sleep in Autistic Children

NCT07277101 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 106

Last updated 2025-12-11

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Sleep problems are very common in children on the autism spectrum and can worsen daytime behaviour, learning, and family stress. Many families have limited access to specialist sleep services. This study evaluates a school-based, sensory-friendly physical activity program designed to improve sleep and wellbeing in autistic children.

This multicenter, parallel-group, cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in special education schools in China. Classrooms of children aged 7-12 years with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder were randomly assigned to either: (1) a teacher-led, sensory-friendly physical activity program integrated into regular physical education lessons for 16 weeks, or (2) usual school activities without the program. The intervention emphasized predictable routines, gradual warm-up, adjusted sensory input (for example, noise and light), and calming cool-down activities to support self-regulation and readiness for sleep.

The primary outcomes are children's sleep parameters measured by wrist actigraphy, including sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, and wake after sleep onset. Secondary outcomes include parent-reported sleep problems, children's daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and caregivers' sleep quality, mental health, parenting sense of competence, and quality of life. Outcomes are assessed at baseline, immediately after the 16-week program, and 6 months after the program ends.

Conditions

Interventions

OTHER

Conventional control group

Children follow the usual daily schedule

BEHAVIORAL

Sensory-Friendly Physical Activity Program (PAP)

A structured, teacher-led physical activity program designed to be sensory-friendly for autistic children. Delivered in special education schools during scheduled physical education lessons, 3 sessions per week for 16 weeks. Each session includes predictable routines, warm-up, moderate-to-vigorous activities adapted for motor and sensory needs, and a cool-down with breathing and relaxation to support self-regulation and sleep readiness.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Xili Wen

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
7 Years
Max Age
12 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-06-01
Primary Completion
2025-01-31
Completion
2025-01-31

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07277101 on ClinicalTrials.gov