The effect of musical movement activities on the balance function of autistic children

Atoosa Atigh; Malahat Akbarfahimi; Mehdi Alizadeh; Maryam Mahmoodi Rad

Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

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The effect of musical movement activities on the balance function of autistic children

Author(s):

Atoosa Atigh¹,

Malahat Akbarfahimi^2,*,

Mehdi Alizadeh²,

Maryam Mahmoodi Rad³

1Dept. of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2Dept. of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences:Vol. 17, issue 8; e74389

Published online:Nov 29, 2013

Article type:Research Article

Received:Apr 08, 2013

Accepted:May 14, 2013

How to Cite:Atoosa AtighMalahat AkbarfahimiMehdi AlizadehMaryam Mahmoodi RadThe effect of musical movement activities on the balance function of autistic children.J Kermanshah Univ Med Sci.17(8):e74389.

Abstract

Background: Autistic children with low level performance have problems in social interaction, communication skills and sensory processing as well as motor and balance function. Musical activity is one of the most effective therapeutic strategies to manage some of these core defects. The present study examined the effect of musical movement activities on the balance function of 7 to 14 years autistic children with low performance.

Methods: Twenty-two autistic students with low performance at age range of 7 to 14 years old participated in the study were assigned to experimental and control group randomly. The interventions were consisted of musical movement activities for experimental and without music for control group. Balance performance of subjects was assessed before treatment, and after 12^th and 24^th therapeutic sessions using balancing subtest of Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (BOTMP). The assessments were double blinded. Data were analyzed employing repeated measures of ANOVA. The SPSS software-version 17was used.

Results: The results indicated that the effect of interventions on two groups was significantly different (F; 1.2= 52.8, P<0.001). The improvement in the balancing performance has been observed in both groups after 12th and 24th sessions although the difference in balance scores between groups was higher after 24th treatment session (P<0.001); that is in experimental group more improvement was obtained.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that musical movement activities can accelerate the improvement in balance function of autistic children with low performance.

Keywords

low functioning autistic children

balancing performance

musical movement activities

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