An Introduction on the Benefits of Motor and Sports Activities on Sensory Processing in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in behavior and communication and social interaction of the diagnosed person, having negative consequences on functioning and performance in different areas. With different forms of manifestation and degrees of impairment, the individual with ASD presents difficulties in contextual and/or sensory perception of stimuli, which causes maladaptive responses from him/her, often accompanied by motor difficulties. The purpose of this article is to identify the existence of the benefits that the practice of motor and sports activities have on sensory processing in children with ASD. The results highlight that there are associations between sensory processing difficulties and motor impairments, even from the first years of life, with the motor and sensory areas being in neural connection and developing at the same time at an accelerated pace. Practicing motor and sports activities leads to improvements in different areas: physical and mental health, motor skills (oral and visual, gross and fine motor skills, manual dexterity, balance, ability to relax and control body movements), cognitive and sensory processing (memorization, sequencing, attention, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control of body movements, academic performance), communication and social interaction skills (establishing and maintaining friendships, acceptance from others), adaptive behaviors (reduction of stereotyped and self-aggressive behaviors, self-stimulation, hyperkinetic behavior).