Barreiras para a prática de atividades físicas durante e após o período de distanciamento social da pandemia da Covid-19: estudo descritivo com crianças e adolescentes com Transtorno do Espectro Autista de Canguçu/RS

Abstract

Autism is a complex and comprehensive neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication, and the presence of restricted and stereotyped behaviors. With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents with ASD were particularly affected by virus containment measures, as they require comprehensive and constant multidisciplinary monitoring. The objective of the study was to identify the main barriers to the practice of PA during and after the period of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic for children and adolescents with ASD in Canguçu/RS. The study included 60 children and adolescents with ASD, aged between 2 and 17 years, enrolled at APAE in the city of Canguçu/RS, where a face-to-face interview was carried out with the participants' parents or guardians. Among the results found, environmental barriers were the most reported for children and adolescents with ASD to practice PA, among the most recommended during the pandemic were the closing of schools and not holding face-to-face classes. Likewise, not having free and guided PA opportunities close to home, and not having places close to home to practice PA were the other two most reported environmental barriers to practicing PA, both during and after social distancing. of the pandemic. The results indicate that the pandemic period had educational, physical and social effects on individuals with ASD and that environmental barriers, according to parents' perception, are those that make it most difficult for their children to practice PA, both during and following the COVID-19 pandemic social distancing.