Effects of PediaSuit Intensive Treatment in a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in addition to difficulties in communication and social interaction, presents a motor condition with hypotonic aspects and disorganized axes, which cause a delay in their neuropsychomotor development, directly influencing their functional abilities. The PediaSuit Protocol is an intensive therapy for the treatment of individuals with neurological disorders that affect motor and/or cognitive functions. The pressure and resistance provided by the PediaSuit path can potentially help activate muscles, especially in areas where hypotonia is most pronounced. This could help build muscle strength and improve motor skills. Goal: To report the motor effects of an intensive PediaSuit protocol in a child with ASD. Methodology: Female child, 5 years old, diagnosed with ASD three years ago, participating in an intensive using the PediaSuit protocol for two days, for five days a week, for four weeks. The protocol began with sensory massage before putting on clothes, after which exercises were performed to change postures from kneeling and half-kneeling to standing in the skills cage and sensorimotor circuits to work on stepping over skills at different heights, balance bars, jump for jumping with two feet together, ball and swing for sensory regulation. Results: It was possible to observe an improvement in postural adjustments during the changes from kneeling and semi-kneeling to standing carried out by the patient, where she was able to perform them in a more agile way, without support and with a smaller pattern of compensatory movement, in addition to acquiring the ability to jump with both feet together, kick with single leg support without support and throws with intention and aim. An improvement in postural adjustments was observed in the sitting posture, where she reduced her pelvic retroversion, managing to keep her trunk aligned, favoring the gain of fine motor skills such as opening and closing lids of different shapes and sizes. Conclusion: It is concluded that the use of the PediaSuit protocol can be beneficial in improving the motor and postural skills of children with ASD, requiring further studies and studies with a control group to better compare the results.