Effectiveness of Adding Neurosensomotor Reflex Development and Synchronization to the Perceptual Motor Program in Improving Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often show impaired sensorimotor integration, which disrupts both static and dynamic balance and limits how independently they manage daily activities. The Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) has been reported to enhance balance in this group, but evidence on whether pairing it with Neuro Senso Motor Reflex Development and Synchronization (NSMRD&S) yields further benefit is lacking. The aim was to determine whether NSMRD&S given on top of PMP produces greater improvement in static and dynamic balance among children with ASD than PMP given by itself. Thirty children with ASD were allocated equally to an intervention group (NSMRD&S plus PMP, n=15) or a control group (PMP only, n=15) in a two-group pretest–posttest study. Both groups attended sessions three times weekly for four weeks. Static balance was assessed using the One Legged Stance Test and dynamic balance using the Beam Balance Test. The paired sample t-test examined changes within groups and the independent t-test compared the groups, at a significance level of p<0.05. Static and dynamic balance both improved significantly in each group (p = 0.001). Static balance gains were larger in the intervention group than in controls (3.26 ± 1.66 vs. 2.93 ± 1.33; p = 0.000), and dynamic balance gains were considerably larger (1.35 ± 0.44 vs. 0.48 ± 0.30; p = 0.000). Adding NSMRD&S to PMP produced greater balance improvement, both static and dynamic, than PMP alone in children with ASD. The findings favor integrating sensorimotor-reflex techniques with perceptual-motor training when physiotherapists address balance problems in this population.