Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34468951›Full record

SynthesisSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2022

The Effects of Exercise Interventions on Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Xiao Liang, Ru Li, Stephen H S Wong, Raymond K W Sum, Peng Wang, Binrang Yang, Cindy H P Sit

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 83 papers, 23 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
83citing papers in PubMed, 23 pooled it
9.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

83 citing papers in PubMed, 23 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 141 citations in OpenAlex.

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23 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Xiao LiangDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
Ru LiThe Faculty of Physical Education, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Stephen H S WongDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
Raymond K W SumDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
Peng WangCardiac Rehabilitation Center, Fuwai Hospital, CAMS&PUMC, Beijing, China.
Binrang YangShenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Cindy H P SitDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. sithp@cuhk.edu.hk.
Chinese University of Hong Kong · CNChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College · CNShenzhen Children's Hospital · CNShenzhen University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBoth chronic and acute exercise interventions have reported positive effects on executive functions (EFs) in general populations. However, data on changes in EFs in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in response to exercise interventions are still unclear.

objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize available empirical studies concerning the effects of exercise interventions on EFs in children and adolescents with ASD.

methodsIn accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guidelines, the electronic databases CINAHL Complete (via EBSCOhost), SPORTDiscus with Full Text (via EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost), Web of Science, ProQuest, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC; via EBSCOhost) were searched from inception to January 2021. Two authors independently extracted data and conducted a risk-of-bias analysis using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Randomized controlled trials/quasi-experimental designs that used acute or chronic exercise interventions and assessed EFs through neurocognitive tasks or questionnaires among children and adolescents with ASD were included. In total, 259 articles were identified, of which 15 full texts were independently assessed for eligibility by two authors. In total, 14 articles underwent systematic review, and seven were selected for meta-analysis.

resultsOverall, chronic exercise interventions had a small to moderate positive effect on overall EFs in children and adolescents with ASD (g = 0.342; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.084-0.600; p < 0.01). Regarding domain-specific EFs, chronic exercise interventions had a small to moderate positive effect on cognitive flexibility (g = 0.312; 95% CI 0.053-0.570; p < 0.01) and inhibitory control (g = 0.492; 95% CI 0.188-0.796; p < 0.01). However, our review found a non-significant effect size (g = 0.212; 95% CI - 0.088 to 0.512) on working memory.

conclusionsChronic exercise interventions appear to have beneficial effects on overall EFs in children and adolescents with ASD, particularly in relation to cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderExecutive FunctionAdolescentChildExerciseExercise TherapyHumans

Identifiers

PMID34468951
OpenAlexW3197809273

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.