Exergames and Aerobic Exercise for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Tests exergames and aerobic exercise on sleep and movement in children with autism.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- National Taiwan University Hospital
- Where
- Taipei, TaiwanSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Exercise Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 105 people, planned
- Started
- 17 May 2026
- Expected to end
- 30 Jul 2028
- Type of study
- Interventional, 3 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Exergaming
- Aerobic exercise
- Conventional physical therapy
- Behavioral Education
- Record updated
- 27 August 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 4 to 10 with autism spectrum disorder who have sleep problems. It tests exergames and aerobic exercise.
- Age
- 4 to 10 years (48 to 131 months).
- Sex
- Boys and girls can both join.
- Disease stage
- A clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleep problems on more than 3 days per week in the past 3 months, as reported by the caregiver.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Physical disabilities or birth defects of the arms or legs
- Loss of vision or hearing
- A genetic disorder such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 8 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Aged 4-10 year (48-131 months)
- Have a clinical diagnosis of ASD
- Able to follow two-step order
- With sleep disturbances for more than 3 days per week in past 3 months reported by child's caregiver
- The primary caregiver must be aged 20 years or older and capable of reading and writing in Chinese
Who cannot take part
- The child has been diagnosed with genetic disorders (e.g., Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome)
- Having physical disabilities or congenital anomalies of extremities
- Loss of vision or hearing function
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 4 and 10 years old?
Where in Taiwan
- Early Childhood Behavior Laboratory, School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University,Taipei, TaiwanContact: Yen-Tzu Wu, PT, Ph.DTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The purpose of this clinical trial is to find out whether exergame and aerobic exercise can improve sleep, movement skills, thinking abilities, and brain activity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Read full original descriptionShow less
This study aims to answer the following questions:
1. Can exergame and aerobic exercise improve sleep, movement skills, and thinking abilities in children with ASD? 2. Can exergame and aerobic exercise change brain activity in children with ASD?
Researchers will compare three different intervention programs:
1. Exergame combined with motor and behavioral intervention. 2. Aerobic exercise combined with motor and behavioral intervention. 3. Motor and behavioral intervention only. By comparing these three groups, researchers hope to determine whether adding exergames or aerobic exercise provides additional benefits for children with ASD.
Participants will:
1. Attend one intervention session each week for 8 weeks. Depending on the group they are assigned to, they will receive either exergames combined with motor and behavioral intervention, aerobic exercise combined with motor and behavioral intervention, or motor and behavioral intervention only. 2. Complete a home exercise program twice a week for 12 weeks. 3. Visit the laboratory three times for assessments: before the intervention begins, at the end of Week 8, and at the end of Week 12.
The 3 groups in the trial
- Exergaming groupTreatment being tested
This experimental arm including exergame, motor intervention focusing on fundamental motor skills, and behavioral education on sleep disturbances.
Treatment: Exergaming, Conventional physical therapy, and Behavioral Education
- Interval based Aerobic Exercise groupTreatment being tested
This experimental arm including interval-based aerobic exercise, motor intervention focusing on fundamental motor skills, and behavioral education on sleep disturbances.
Treatment: Aerobic exercise, Conventional physical therapy, and Behavioral Education
- Control groupExisting treatment, for comparison
This experimental arm including motor intervention focusing on fundamental motor skills, and behavioral education on sleep disturbances.
Treatment: Conventional physical therapy and Behavioral Education
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
- Exercise Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Exergaming Intervention on Sleep, Motor, Executive Function and Brian Activation
- Plain-language title
- Exergames and Aerobic Exercise for Children With Autism Spectrum DisorderGenerated 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 NCT07789457, who can take part
- Record updated
- 27 August 2026