Does Neurodevelopmental Approach of Physical Therapy Have an Impact on Gross Motor and Cognitive Function of Non-obese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Due to their cognitive and physical impairments, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have detrimental effects on their daily activities. The goals of physical therapy (PT) treatment plans are to lessen impairments to body structure and function, support milestones, and encourage developmental sequence. Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) is a sensory–motor approach used by physical therapists/occupational therapists to children and adult function and manage movement disorders due to neurological impairment. No studies until now have focused on the role of the NDT approach of PT on children with ASD. So, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NDT PT approach on the gross motor development and cognition of children with ASD. Forty children with ASD were randomly distributed into two groups: group A (intervention group) for PT, and group B (control group). They were evaluated using gross motor functional measure (GMFM)-66 to measure gross motor skills and Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales fifth edition (SB5) to measure the intelligence quotient and cognitive variables before and after intervention. Intervention continued for 3 months for children with ASD in the Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Group A had significant improvements for both gross motor function ( P = 0.001) and cognition ( P = 0.001), and group B showed no significant change for both gross motor ( P = 0.69) and cognition ( P = 0.21) while between-groups comparison showed significant improvement in group A for cognition ( P = 0.003) and gross motor function ( P = 0.003). It was concluded that gross motor development on GMFM-66 and cognitive functions of children with ASD on SB5 significantly improved after a structured individualized NDT PT program for 3 months of daily sessions for 1 h at school age for non-obese children with ASD.