Skip to main content
AAPM&R 2025 Main banner
JFK
Final Program


Official Program
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
On Demand
On Demand
In-Person
In-Person
Livestream
Livestream
Invite Only
Invite Only
Ticketed
Ticketed
Coffee Break
Coffee Break
Meal
Meal
Reception
Reception
Rate ePoster

Pediatric Rehabilitation

Impact of Early Physical Therapy on Gross Motor Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Friday, October 24, 2025
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM MT
Location: Original Research Theater
Has Audio

    Poster Presenter(s)

  • Karina Alexandra Roman-Mont

    Medical Student
    Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine
    Phoenix, Arizona

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Rodrigo Vivar, MBA, MD

    Director of 4th Semester, International Medicine Program, UAG School of Medicine
    Universidad Autonoma De Guadalajara
    Zapopan, Mexico

Disclosure(s):
Karina Alexandra Roman-Mont: No financial relationships to disclose
Rodrigo Vivar, MBA, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Background and/or Objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by atypical social communication, behavioral patterns, and increasingly recognized motor impairments. Although not core diagnostic features, early motor deficits—such as poor balance, gait abnormalities, and coordination challenges—can hinder functional independence and social engagement. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of early physical therapy (PT) on gross motor outcomes in young children with ASD.

Design: Systematic review conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

Setting : Interventions occurred across diverse settings, including outpatient clinics, early intervention programs, aquatic environments, and equine-assisted therapy centers.

Participants : Children under six years old diagnosed with ASD, all enrolled in PT-focused studies.

Interventions: Included PT interventions ranged in frequency, duration, and modality. Approaches encompassed neurodevelopmental therapy, sensory integration, aquatic therapy, equine-assisted movement, and structured motor play.

Main Outcome Measures: Gross motor function, specifically improvements in locomotion, dynamic balance, bilateral coordination, and object control. Secondary outcomes included attention span, social responsiveness, and emotional regulation.

Results: Among 35 studies, 22 targeted early intervention; 18 demonstrated significant gains in motor function. High-frequency, therapist-led programs stood out for delivering the best outcomes. Additional benefits included improved attention, social engagement, and emotional regulation. Challenges remain, such as inconsistent measurement tools, heterogeneous samples, and limited long-term follow-up.

Conclusions: Early physical therapy (PT) interventions demonstrate promising improvements in gross motor function in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with potential ancillary benefits in cognitive and social-emotional domains. However, heterogeneity in study design, measurement tools, and the lack of longitudinal data remain key limitations. Despite these challenges, findings support the critical need for early motor screening and integration of PT into multidisciplinary ASD care models before age six to optimize developmental outcomes.