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SPARK Exercise Program and Game-based Training in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT07579000 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 22

Last updated 2026-05-11

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare the effects of the SPARK program versus game-based circuit training on motor skills and social interaction in 22 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aged 5-12 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the SPARK group (n=11) or game-based training group (n=11) at a child rehabilitation center over 10 months. Each intervention will be delivered for 12 weeks, three times per week for 30 minutes. Motor proficiency will be measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test (BOT-2), and social interaction using the Autism Social Skills Profile (ASSP). After ethical approval from Riphah International University, Lahore, data will be analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Conditions

Interventions

OTHER

Structured Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids Exercise program (SPARK)

The SPARK intervention consists of 36 sessions, delivered 3 times per week for 40 minutes per session. Each session is divided into three parts: a 10-minute warm-up, a 20-minute main treatment, and a 10-minute cool-down. During the warm-up, a scramble interactive activity is performed in four positions: (1) prone lying on a soft surface, (2) quadruped (knees and hands on the floor), (3) quick standing with bent knees, and (4) jumping. The main treatment follows standard SPARK protocols, including heavy fitness activities (e.g., aerobic dance, running games, jump ropes) to develop endurance, abdomen, and upper body strength, followed by skill fitness activities (e.g., basketball, football, kickball) to improve fitness. The session ends with a 10-minute cool-down including deep breathing exercises.

OTHER

Game-based Training

The game-based training intervention consists of 32 sessions over 16 weeks, with 2 sessions per week, each lasting 33 minutes. Each session is divided into three 11-minute segments: warm-up, agility exercises, and agility with a skill. The warm-up includes moderate-to-vigorous activities such as walking on toes and heels, jogging, and running fast between two cones placed 10 yards apart. The agility segment involves running over sequentially added hurdles (up to four), cones, rings, and a ladder. The final segment combines agility with fine and gross motor skills, including picking up bean bags, throwing a football, stacking cups, walking over hurdles, catching a football, zig-zag running through rings, and throwing a ball at a target. Participants complete three circuits per session while working in small groups to encourage social interaction

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Riphah International University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Maham Bashir, MS PT · Riphah International University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

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

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-10-28
Primary Completion
2026-06-02
Completion
2026-07-02

Countries

  • Pakistan

Study Locations

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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 NCT07579000 on ClinicalTrials.gov