Table 2.
Descriptive characteristics of included studies.
| Included studies | Research design | Sample size (IG/CG) | Age range | Diagnosis/diagnostic method | Source of participants | Timing | Intervention design | Intensity | Duration/Time/Frequency | Outcome Measures | Activity the control group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adib Saber et al., 2021* | RCT | 20(10/10) | 8–14 | ASD; GARS-2 | Support institutions | - | Karate (mind–body activities) | - | 10 week; 60-min/session; 2 times/week | CSHQ | UC |
| Ansari et al., 2021* | RCT | 40(20/20) | 6–14 | ASD; DSM-5 | Support institutions | Afternoon | Swimming (water-based aerobics) | - | 10 week; 60-min/session; 2 times/week | CSHQ | NT |
| Brand et al., 2015 | PPT | 10 | 7–13 | ASD; ICD-10 | Support institutions | - | Bicycle and motor skills (land-based aerobic exercise) | - | 3 week; 60-min/session; 3 times/week | Sleep-EEG | - |
| PSQI | |||||||||||
| Garcia et al., 2024 | PPT | 18 | Mean age: 13.17 ± 3.76 | ASD; − | - | Afternoon | Family judo program (mind–body activities) | - | 14 week; 45-min/session; 1 times/week | Actigraph GT9X accelerometer | - |
| Gudek Seferoglu, 2022* | RCT | 126(62/64) | 8–18 | ID; DSM-V | Special school | - | Volleyball, basketball, et al. (land-based aerobics) | Mod | 30 week; 120-min/session; 3 times/week | CSHQ | NT |
| Lawson et al., 2017 | PPT | 10 | 5–12.3 | ASD; DSM-5 | - | - | Swimming (water-based aerobics) | - | 8 week; 30-min/session; 1 times/week | CSHQ | - |
| Lawson et al., 2022 | PPT | 3 | 4–17 | ASD; DSM-5 | - | - | Swimming (water-based aerobics) | - | 8 week; 30-min/session; 1 times/week | Beddit Sleep Monitor | - |
| CSHQ | |||||||||||
| Sleep log | |||||||||||
| Liu et al., 2023* | RCT | 33(17/16) | 8–12 | ADHD; DSM-5 | Special school | - | Jogging (land-based aerobics) | Mod | 12 week; 45-min/session; 1 times/week | Actigraphy | NT |
| Sleep log | |||||||||||
| NaraSiNgharao et al., 2017* | NRS | 64(32/32) | 5–16 | ASD; ICD-10 | Special school | Morning | Yoga (mind–body activities) | - | 90 sessions; 75-min/session; 5 times/week | Sleep questionnaire for parents | - |
| Oriel et al., 2016 | PPT | 8 | 6–11 | ASD; Parent report | Support classrooms | - | Aquatic (water-based aerobics) | Mod | 4 week; 60-min/session; 2 times/week | CSHQ | - |
| Sleep-related questions | |||||||||||
| Toscano et al., 2022* | NRS | 229 (127/62/40) | 2.3–17.3 | ASD; DSM-5 | Pediatric center | - | Coordination and strength exercise (land-based aerobics) | Mod | 48 week; 40-min/session; 2 times/week | Autistic traits assessment scale | - |
| Tse et al., 2019* | RCT | 40 (19/21) | 8–12 | ASD; DSM-5 | Special school | Morning | Basketball (land-based aerobics) | Mod | 12 week; 45-min/session; 2 times/week | Actigraphy | NT |
| Sleep log | |||||||||||
| Tse et al., 2022* | RCT | 55 (23/32) | 8–12 | ASD; ADOS-2 | Special school | Morning | Jogging (land-based aerobics) | Mod | 12 week; 30-min/session; 2 times/week | Actigraphy | NT |
| Sleep log | |||||||||||
| Tse et al., 2023* | RCT | 36 (18/18) | 8–12 | ASD; DSM-5 | Special school | - | Cycling (land-based aerobics) | - | 2 week; 60-min/session; 5 times/week | GT3X accelerometer | AP |
| Actigraphy | |||||||||||
| Sleep log |
AP, attention/activity placebo conditions; CG, control group; CSHQ, Children’ s Sleep Habits Questionnaire; IG, intervention group; Mod, Moderate; NRS, non-randomized comparison study; NT, not exercise group; PPT, pre-post-test; PSQI, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; RCT, Randomized Control Trial; UC, usual care and daily activities; −, no report; *Studies included in the meta-analysis.