Even just low levels of daily physical activity can lead to significant improvements in fitness level, social responsiveness, cognitive flexibility, and planning and organizing abilities in autistic adolescents according to a recent study by Dr. Claudia Hilton, professor with the University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences.

The 12-month study, conducted at a private school in Houston, required participants to do 35 minutes of low-to-moderate physical activity every day.

“Autistic adolescents often do not like to participate in physical activities,” said Hilton. “So, the results from this reduced effort are hopeful news for them and their parents.”

Investigators were intentional about the duration of the daily exercise, because currently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends one hour or more of moderate to vigorous exercise daily for children and teenagers between the ages of six and 17.

Improvements were also noted in participants’ restrictive and repetitive behaviors, which encompass a wide spectrum of tendencies such as repetitive motor movements like hand flapping, rocking, or spinning; insistence on sameness such as strict adherence to routines or rituals; and intense focus on specific topics, objects, or activities; among others.

Full findings and study information have been published in the journal Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.