Effects of Kinetic Sand on Functional Reach and Eye-Hand Coordination in Children With Autism

NCT07578987 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR&AHS/Huma Mumtaz
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 17
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A quasi-experimental pre-post study will be conducted at pediatric therapy clinics and special education centers, involving 17 children aged 6-12 years diagnosed with mild to moderate ASD, selected through convenient sampling. The intervention will consist of kinetic sand play for 30 minutes, three times per week, over six weeks, including activities such as molding objects, searching for hidden items, and free play to enhance creativity, grip strength, and coordination. Eye-hand coordination and functional reach will be assessed using the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) and the Functional Reach Test. Data will be analyzed using SPSS Version 26 with paired t-tests or appropriate non-parametric methods. Ethical approval will be obtained from the Research Ethical Committee of Riphah International University, Lahore.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Functional Reach; Hand-Eye Coordination; Kinetic Sand Therapy; Purdue Pegboard test; Sensory Integration Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Functional Reach

  To assess functional reach before and after the intervention, the Functional Reach Test will be used to evaluate improvements in balance and reaching ability. This method allows measurement of the maximum distance a child can reach forward beyond arm's length while maintaining a stable standing position. Changes in reach distance will indicate improvements in postural control, stability, and functional mobility, reflecting the effectiveness of the intervention.

  7 weeks

• Eye-Hand Coordination

  To assess eye-hand coordination before and after the intervention, the Purdue Pegboard Test will be used to evaluate improvements in fine motor skills and coordination. This method allows measurement of hand dexterity, speed, and accuracy by recording the number of pins placed within a specific time. Changes in scores will indicate improvements in coordination between visual input and hand movements, reflecting the effectiveness of the intervention.

  7 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Kinetic sand play

EXPERIMENTAL

After obtaining consent, the patient was introduced to a rehabilitation protocol combining traditional physiotherapy for the wrist and hand with kinetic sand therapy. The program included range of motion exercises, grip strengthening, and kinetic sand activities, performed for 40 minutes per session, 6 days per week, over 7 weeks. This comprehensive approach aimed to reduce pain and swelling while improving hand function, strength, and coordination.

Other: Kinetic Sand Play

Interventions

Kinetic Sand Play OTHER

After obtaining consent, the patient was introduced to a rehabilitation protocol combining traditional physiotherapy for the wrist and hand with kinetic sand therapy. The program included range of motion exercises, grip strengthening, and kinetic sand activities, performed for 40 minutes per session, 6 days per week, over 7 weeks. This comprehensive approach aimed to reduce pain and swelling while improving hand function, strength, and coordination.

Kinetic sand play

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• According to DSM-5 criteria, characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction
• Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior or interests
• Children demonstrating measurable impairments in functional reach and eye-hand coordination
• Able to follow instructions

You may not qualify if:

• Children with severe intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or other neurological conditions that significantly impair motor function
• Children currently receiving other intensive occupational or physical therapy targeting functional reach or eye-hand coordination
• Presence of musculoskeletal deformities, severe visual impairments, or other medical conditions independently affecting motor skills or coordination

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Imran Amjad

Lahore, Punjab Province, 5400, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Lord C, Elsabbagh M, Baird G, Veenstra-Vanderweele J. Autism spectrum disorder. Lancet. 2018 Aug 11;392(10146):508-520. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31129-2. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

  PMID: 30078460 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Huma Mumtaz, MS-PT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Imran Amjad, PhD

CONTACT

9233224390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Muhammad Asif Javed, PhD*

CONTACT

923224209422; a.javed@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: A quasi-experimental pre-post study will be conducted at pediatric therapy clinics and special education centers. Seventeen children aged 6-12 years with mild to moderate ASD will be recruited through convenient sampling, accounting for possible dropouts. The intervention will consist of kinetic sand play for 30 minutes, three times per week, over six weeks, including molding, hidden object search, and free play to improve grip and coordination. Eye-hand coordination and functional reach will be assessed using the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) and Functional Reach Test. Data will be analyzed using SPSS Version 26 with paired t-tests or appropriate non-parametric methods. Ethical approval will be obtained from the Research Ethical Committee of Riphah International University, Lahore.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2026
• First Posted: May 11, 2026
• Study Start: October 28, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 5, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2026
• Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)