Motor and exercise-based interventions for children with ASD: a comparative review of delivery models and implications for psychosocial interventions

Motor impairments are common among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), limiting participation in educational, social, and community contexts. Although motor and exercise-based interventions for children with ASD are widely studied, differences in delivery models and their implications for psychosocial interventions remain insufficiently synthesised. This narrative review adopts a comparative perspective to examine motor and exercise-based interventions for children with ASD, focusing on how different delivery models shape participation-related and social experiences. Interventions are grouped into four categories: (1) traditional motor interventions delivered within healthcare (e.g. physical and occupational therapy); (2) structured exercise-based programmes; (3) group-based sports and recreational activities; and (4) technology-assisted or digital interventions. Rather than comparing quantitative effect sizes, this review emphasises implications for psychosocial interventions related to participation opportunities, social engagement, and contextual fit. Findings are interpreted within the educational and healthcare systems in Taiwan, highlighting implications for interdisciplinary practice and policy development.