Contribution of Physical Exercise on the Emotional Regulation of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the effect of physical exercise on the emotional regulation of 4 adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between the ages of 22 and 39. In this population it was found that one of the difficulties presented in these subjects is emotional regulation ( empathy) in their daily activities, such as variations in their routine, these can be changes in time or activities, disorder in their things, sleeplessness at night, etc.   Methodology: Qualitative approach with case study design, the Atlas Ti program was used for semantic analysis, for this 4 subjects diagnosed by the Colombian League of Autism were selected, subsequently 15 interventions were carried out from a physical activity proposal and interviews were developed to the parents of the 4 participating subjects, to learn about the effect of exercise on the population of adults with autism.   Results and Conclusions: It was found that there are various behaviors that subjects express in different situations, whether on the street, home or other space, in conclusion, the effect of physical exercise on emotional regulation contributes to improving moods, decreasing the escalation phases and generating better empathy towards the execution of activities or exercises in the 4 adults.   Implications: This research provides implications for educational and government policy to continue to strengthen public policies for people with ASD.   Originality/value: This research offers novelty by glimpsing the impact of exercise and physical activity on people with ASD.