SynthesisFrontiers in behavioral neuroscience2026
Effects of aquatic exercise on symptoms, behaviors, and motor function in children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Aquatic exercise combines structured physical activity, sensorimotor training, and social participation, and may be an acceptable adjunctive intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, existing trials are limited by small samples, heterogeneous outcomes, and complex data structures. Objective: To evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise on ASD-related symptoms or behaviors, motor or physical function, autism severity, stereotyped behaviors, social function, and other outcomes in children with ASD. Methods: Controlled studies comparing structured aquatic exercise with passive or active controls were included. Hedges' g was calculated using post-intervention values, with positive values favoring aquatic exercise. Random-effects models were fitted using restricted maximum likelihood with Knapp-Hartung confidence intervals. For outcomes with only 2 studies, fixed-effect sensitivity analyses were also reported. Change-score analyses and sensitivity analyses using different pre-post correlation assumptions were performed. Multiple motor outcomes from the same study were combined within study. Results: Six studies involving 159 children were included for overall ASD-related symptoms or behaviors. Aquatic exercise showed a favorable effect compared with control conditions ( Conclusion: Aquatic exercise may improve overall ASD-related symptoms or behaviors in children with ASD. Evidence for motor function and other specific outcomes remains limited, heterogeneous, and exploratory. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420261436475.
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