Aerobic Exercise and Parent Training for Sleep Problems in Children With Autism
Tests aerobic exercise plus parent training for sleep problems in autistic children.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- National Taiwan University Hospital
- Where
- Taipei, TaiwanSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Aerobic Exercise for Sleep in Children With ASD
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 120 people, planned
- Started
- 15 Apr 2025
- Planned end
- 1 Aug 2026
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Intervention 1: Acute Aerobic Exercise
- Intervention 2: Parent-Mediated Cognitive Behavioral Training
- Parent Self-Education Program
- Record updated
- 14 July 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for children aged 3 to 11 with autism spectrum disorder and a sleep disorder. It tests a short aerobic exercise program with a parent-led behavioral program.
- Age
- 3 to 11 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- A clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder together with a sleep disorder.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Genetic or chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome
- Physical disabilities, or visual or hearing impairments
- Unable to do vigorous physical activity because of a medical condition
- Other psychiatric disorders
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 6 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Children aged 3-11 years
- Clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and a comorbid sleep disorder
- No diagnosis of genetic or chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome
Who cannot take part
- Children who are unable to participate in vigorous physical activity due to any medical condition
- Children with other psychiatric disorders
- Children with physical disabilities or visual or hearing impairments
Check if you might fit
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 3 and 11 years old?
Where in Taiwan
- School and Graduate of Physical TherapyTaipei, TaiwanContact: Yen-Tzu Wu, PhDTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication. Children with ASD frequently experience co-occurring behavioral problems, among which sleep disturbances are highly prevalent, affecting approximately 40%-80% of children and adolescents with ASD. These sleep problems pose a substantial burden during childhood and adolescence.
Read full original descriptionShow less
This study employs a two-phase design to examine the effects of an acute aerobic exercise intervention combined with a parent-mediated cognitive behavioral program on sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Phase 1 consists of cross-sectional assessments comparing sleep efficiency, physical fitness, and attentional performance among children with ASD with and without sleep problems and typically developing children. Phase 2 is a randomized controlled intervention trial involving children with ASD and comorbid sleep problems, in which participants are assigned to either an aerobic exercise plus cognitive behavioral intervention group or a control group receiving cognitive behavioral strategy materials only. The intervention lasts two weeks. Outcomes related to autistic symptoms, sleep efficiency, physical activity level, attentional performance , and adaptive behaviors are assessed before and after the intervention to evaluate intervention effects.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Aerobic-Cognitive Behavioral Integrated Intervention (ACBI) programTreatment being tested
The Aerobic-Cognitive Behavioral Integrated Intervention (ACBI) combines supervised moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise (twice weekly, 30 minutes per session for 2 weeks) with a parent-mediated cognitive behavioral component targeting sleep-related behaviors. Exercise intensity is monitored using heart rate-based criteria. Parents receive structured guidance and implement cognitive behavioral strategies daily at home throughout the intervention period.
Treatment: Intervention 1: Acute Aerobic Exercise and Intervention 2: Parent-Mediated Cognitive Behavioral Training
- Control groupExisting treatment, for comparison
Provision of written materials describing cognitive behavioral strategies for managing sleep-related behaviors in children with ASD. No structured training sessions or supervised implementation are provided.
Treatment: Parent Self-Education Program
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Acute Aerobic Exercise Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Co-Occurring Sleep Disorder
- Plain-language title
- Aerobic Exercise and Parent Training for Sleep Problems in Children With AutismGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Fit questions
- Built from NCT07381504, who can take part
- Publications
- Interval-Based Aerobic Exercise and Behavioral Intervention for Sleep Disturbances in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2026
- Record updated
- 14 July 2026