Effect of Swimming Exercise on Respiratory Muscle Strength and Respiratory Functions in Children with Autism.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of swimming exercise on respiratory muscle strength and respiratory functions in children with autism. Autism is a mental disorder that affects many areas such as sensory, cognitive, motor, and psycho-motor development in individuals. For this purpose, 15 individuals with autism, 8 of which were in the experimental group and 7 in the control group, participated in the study. The experimental group was subjected to swimming exercise for 1 hour, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. The control group was not included in this exercise. Respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function tests were applied to both groups before and after the 6-week period. The obtained data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Program Version 22.0. Values were presented as minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation, and standard error. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test for normality. Paired-sample t-test was used for pre-test and post-test, and independent-sample t-test was used for intergroup analysis. At the end of 6 weeks, according to the statistical analysis data, there was a significant difference in some of the respiratory function parameters of the experimental group (P < .05), and an improvement was observed in the respiratory muscle strength values, but no significant difference was found (P > .05). No significant difference was found in the respiratory functions of the control group as a result of respiratory muscle strength measurements (P > .05). As a result, we can say that swimming exercise is effective in improving respiratory muscle strength and respiratory functions in children with autism.