Although the benefits of regular physical activity are clearly expressed, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are less physically active than their typically developing peers. Recent empirical studies have revealed that the level of physical activity of children with ASD has further decreased during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)…

This umbrella review addresses the relation between physical activity (PA) for children and youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and positive outcomes. A systematic literature search in Medline, PsychInfo, and ERIC revealed 338 records, and 20 review articles were included in the analysis. The review articles referred to 130…

Depression is a mental health diagnosis that affects many children and adolescents each year. While traditional methods of treatment include therapy and medication, physical activity could also be used as an additional tool to help combat depressive symptoms. A total of 51 articles were found to address the possible benefits of physical activity…

From a health promotion perspective, schools are ideal settings for the promotion of physical activity since virtually all children and youth can be reached. Physical education is mandatory in many countries and offers unique opportunities for the promotion of physical activity among children and youth. However, since physical education represents…

Background: Most children and young people (CYP) worldwide are classified as inactive because they fail to meet the World Health Organisation recommendations for physical activity. Online interventions that use devices like exergames, smartphones, social media, and wearables have the potential to improve physical activity engagement because of…

Background: Physical literacy-focused afterschool activity programs (ASAPs) can be an effective strategy to improve children's health-related parameters. We sought to compare physical activity, body composition, aerobic capacity, and fundamental movement skills between physical literacy-focused ASAP and a standard recreational ASAP. Method: A…

The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the literature on video modeling to support physical activity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specific aims were to (1) identify the targeted skills and behaviors of interest, (2) identify the type of video modeling procedure implemented, and (3) examine the effects of video…

For children and young people with disabilities accumulating the recommended minimum of 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is difficult to obtain. Much of this has been attributed to a lack of programmes and untrained staff who cannot effectively modify or adapt activities for people with disabilities. Given these…

Background: Interventions with active video games (AVGs) can promote physical activity (PA) and health and are compatible with a school setting. The needs of children with intellectual disability (ID) in this area have been neglected. Methods: A two-arm trial was conducted among 203 students with intellectual disability. The intervention group was…

To effectively combat high levels of inactivity among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), scalable and sustainable methods of intervention are required. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a web-based, parent-mediated physical activity intervention for thirteen children with ASD. The intervention, Project CHASE,…

Gamification is an increasingly popular form of health intervention but its efficacy remains elusive due to a lack of clarity in its conceptualization and operationalization. This study aimed to isolate and determine the direct causal effect of one of the most popular game elements used in gamified interventions, the points-based reward system, on…

Purpose: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability (ID) exhibit social and motor impairments and circumscribed interests/behaviors that contribute to lower physical activity (PA) levels. Despite the need for exercise interventions for these children, there is a dearth of evidence-based treatments. This study…

Children with ADHD are often described as experiencing deficits in executive function. Two key areas of concern are inhibition, the ability to refrain from a dominant response when needed, and updating, the ability to revise or update incoming information. The purpose of this manuscript is to combine disparate lines of research to help establish a…

Due to the increased prevalence of obesity and disparity experienced by youth with intellectual disabilities, efforts to synthesize existing knowledge of interventions to attenuate obesity within this marginalized population is imperative. The purpose of this investigation is to systematically analyze interventions targeting anthropometric changes…

Sleep disturbance and executive dysfunction have been widely reported in children with autism spectrum disorder. While the positive impacts of physical activity on sleep quality and cognition are documented in children with typical development, similar studies in children with autism spectrum disorder are scarce. The objective of this study was to…