Do falls and the affects of aging concern you?
For many neurotypical individuals, falls and muscular degeneration as we age can have major implications on independence and quality of life.
Now think of the challenges that already exist for the ASD/Neurodivergent population and consider the question…
“What if we could incorporate strength exercises as preventative training for falls and other accidents?”
When we pose fitness as a life skill, it takes on greater meaning and importance. Strength training is not just looking better or sport-specific performance, but improving critical aspects of physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning for the ASD/ND population of all ages and ability levels.
We usually take action in our own (and other’s) health and fitness only after something “happens” or an illness/injury occurs. Of course, this is relative to a clear incident or occurrence. Most age-related physical complications are a result of disuse and compensatory movement over time. They are not evident day-to-day, rather a culmination of habits over years and decades.
While more (though insufficient) resources and information on transitioning into adulthood for the autism and neurodivergent populations are available, the topic, or practice, of fitness still remains relatively elusive and spoken/written of passively and in vague ambiguity. The notion that “fitness is important” is insufficient to provide guidelines on exercise programming, long-term strategies, or the importance of meeting the individual where they are at physically, adaptively/behaviorally, and cognitively.
For our ASD/ND population, adulthood can bring the same, if not greater, medical and quality of life challenges if physical fitness is not an ongoing part (not conversation, but active component) of daily routine. Strength training in particular can mitigate the effects of aging including muscular atrophy, reduced bone density, locomotion, and balance.
Having spent over two decades developing and implementing strength-based fitness and adapted physical education programs for the ASD and neurodivergent population, I can attest to there being a field of complexity around appropriate and successful programming. It would be far too easy, and lacking a realistic understanding, to recommend a “just start moving” approach.
Exercise science, particularly for the autism and neurodivergent population, is an emerging field practically in a zygotic phase. That stated, there are general guidelines for best practices that can form the framework of programming.
Rather than a program-by-numbers approach which would lead to overconfidence, soon replaced by overwhelm, I am presenting a thought process that may lead to inquiry, research, and eventual implementation of appropriate, effective strength-based fitness programming for adults with autism.
1) Prioritize. At any stage of life, resistance training can build and/or maintain lean, healthy muscle and quality movement.
2) Consistent, planned practice. An appropriate exercise plan is regularly scheduled, progressive (more challenging as skills increase), and meets the current needs of the individual.
3) Choose foundational movements. Squats, rows, presses, carries. Basic, multi-joint movements that build strength in the largest muscle groups. These are the focus on not only Autism Fitness programming, but the basis of any sound strength training protocol.