SPARK Exercise Program and Game-based Training in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT07579000 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR&AHS/MAHAMBASHIR
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare the effects of the SPARK program versus game-based circuit training on motor skills and social interaction in 22 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aged 5-12 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the SPARK group (n=11) or game-based training group (n=11) at a child rehabilitation center over 10 months. Each intervention will be delivered for 12 weeks, three times per week for 30 minutes. Motor proficiency will be measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test (BOT-2), and social interaction using the Autism Social Skills Profile (ASSP). After ethical approval from Riphah International University, Lahore, data will be analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

SPARK; Game-based training; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Motor Skills; Social interaction.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2)

  Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often faces difficulties to perform motor skills. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) is the most widely used assessment tool design to evaluate fine and gross motor skills in children and adolescent age 4 to 21.

  1 months

• Autism social skills profile ASSP

  Autism is also characterized by significant impairment in social interactions.Social skills play a vital role in overall child wellbeing and successful integration in society. These skills include effective communication, cooperation and emotional understanding which helps to develop the meaning full relationships.The autism Social Skills Profile (ASSP) was developed to measure the specific social skills and can be used for planning the intervention that focus on social skills enhancement deficit in children and adolescent of age 6-17 years old

  1 months

Study Arms (2)

Group A: Structured Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids Exercise program (SPARK)

EXPERIMENTAL

The SPARK intervention includes 36 sessions (3x/week, 40 min/session). Each session has: 10-min warm-up (scramble activity: prone lying → quadruped → quick stand with bent knees → jumping), 20-min main treatment (heavy fitness: aerobic dance, running, jump ropes for endurance \& strength; skill fitness: basketball, football, kickball), and 10-min cool-down (deep breathing)

Other: Structured Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids Exercise program (SPARK)

Group B: Game-Based Training.

EXPERIMENTAL

Game-based training: 32 sessions (2x/week, 33 min/session). Each session has three 11-minute segments: warm-up (walking on toes/heels, jogging, running between cones), agility (running over 4 hurdles plus cones, rings, ladder), and agility with skill (catching football, zig-zag through rings, throwing at target, stacking cups). Three circuits per session in small groups

Other: Game-based Training

Interventions

Structured Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids Exercise program (SPARK) OTHER

The SPARK intervention consists of 36 sessions, delivered 3 times per week for 40 minutes per session. Each session is divided into three parts: a 10-minute warm-up, a 20-minute main treatment, and a 10-minute cool-down. During the warm-up, a scramble interactive activity is performed in four positions: (1) prone lying on a soft surface, (2) quadruped (knees and hands on the floor), (3) quick standing with bent knees, and (4) jumping. The main treatment follows standard SPARK protocols, including heavy fitness activities (e.g., aerobic dance, running games, jump ropes) to develop endurance, abdomen, and upper body strength, followed by skill fitness activities (e.g., basketball, football, kickball) to improve fitness. The session ends with a 10-minute cool-down including deep breathing exercises.

Also known as: SPARK

Group A: Structured Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids Exercise program (SPARK)

Game-based Training OTHER

The game-based training intervention consists of 32 sessions over 16 weeks, with 2 sessions per week, each lasting 33 minutes. Each session is divided into three 11-minute segments: warm-up, agility exercises, and agility with a skill. The warm-up includes moderate-to-vigorous activities such as walking on toes and heels, jogging, and running fast between two cones placed 10 yards apart. The agility segment involves running over sequentially added hurdles (up to four), cones, rings, and a ladder. The final segment combines agility with fine and gross motor skills, including picking up bean bags, throwing a football, stacking cups, walking over hurdles, catching a football, zig-zag running through rings, and throwing a ball at a target. Participants complete three circuits per session while working in small groups to encourage social interaction

Group B: Game-Based Training.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• ASD is diagnosed by Psychologist.
• Age 5-12 years with ASD .
• Participants having IQ greater than 70 by using Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC-4)

You may not qualify if:

• Visual or auditory impairment or any orthopedic condition.
• Participants currently enrolled in intensive Physiotherapy (to avoid confounding effects).
• Recent traumatic injury and surgery (≤6 months).
• There was previous involvement with the SPARK program among the participants.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

IHC Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Maham Bashir, 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: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants will get separate treatment protocol and possible efforts will be put to mask both groups about the treatment
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare the effects of the SPARK program versus game-based circuit training on motor skills and social interaction in 22 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aged 5-12 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the SPARK group (n=11) or game-based training group (n=11) at a child rehabilitation center over 10 months. Each intervention will be delivered for 12 weeks, three times per week for 30 minutes. Motor proficiency will be measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test (BOT-2), and social interaction using the Autism Social Skills Profile (ASSP). After ethical approval from Riphah International University, Lahore, data will be analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2026
• First Posted: May 11, 2026
• Study Start: October 28, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 2, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 2, 2026
• Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)