The Barriers to Physical Activity for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Strategies for Overcoming these Barriers

Abstract

The purpose of this synthesis is to examine the barriers to physical activity (PA) for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and strategies for overcoming these barriers. Individuals with ASD face more barriers to PA than their typically developing peers, and therefore, tend to lead less active lifestyles (Must et al., 2015). This can lead to limited motor coordination, health-related issues, and hypokinetic diseases for individuals with ASD (Case & Yun, 2015). The research studies synthesized through this project were analyzed in hopes of uncovering commonly cited barriers to PA for individuals with ASD and strategies for overcoming these barriers. Understanding the unique barriers this population faces and understanding the strategies to overcome these barriers can help physical educators, parents and community instructors increase PA levels in individuals with ASD.