Exercise
While the literature is sparse, there is some evidence to support that exercise in various forms may reduce problem behaviors such as stereotypies, off-task behavior, mouthing, elopement, self-injury, disruptiveness, and aggression in autistic individuals. Benefits appear to be short-term, impacting behavior during as well as up to several hours after exercise. Some studies indicate that there are no differential impacts on challenging behavior between low or high intensity exercise. Find examples from literature here.
Intervention type
A variety of exercise activities have been studied, including walking, jogging, weight training, fitness routines, and bike riding at varying intensities.
Behavioral mechanism(s)
Exercise may be used as an antecedent management strategy to reduce the likelihood of challenging behaviors.
Severity and behavioral function considerations
For stereotypic behaviors (automatic function), explanations for the benefit of exercise with some data support include:
1) the “neurotransmitter hypothesis,” which suggests that physical exercise targets dysfunction within the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter systems observed in stereotypic behaviors, by producing changes in the synthesis and metabolism of monoamines, as well as the enhancement of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and GABA production;
2) the “fatigue hypothesis,” which suggests engagement in stereotypic behaviors decreases because the body is too fatigued following exercise.
Caregiver, context and practical considerations
