Effects of exergames on children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review.

Abstract

Exergaming, a form of sports entertainment game that integrates human‑computer interaction, motion sensing, virtual reality, and other high‑tech technologies, has been employed in the rehabilitation of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder due to its safety and low cost. However, the specific efficacy of implementing exergaming currently lacks systematic synthesis. This study, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY), conducts a scoping review of intervention protocols, effectiveness, and health benefits of exergaming applied to children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, and synthesizes the characteristics of practical outcomes. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, experimental studies on exergaming interventions for children and adolescents with ASD (aged 0-18 years) were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases, covering the period from 2010 to 2025. Health outcomes of the included studies were coded and analyzed based on the ICF-CY framework. A total of 28 studies (involving 12 countries and 789 participants) were included. Exergaming intervention protocols were characterized by diversity and individualization, showing improvements in multiple indicators among children and adolescents with ASD. A total intervention duration of less than 4 h was sufficient to produce beneficial effects, with sports simulation games being the most effective type of exergaming. Among the 77 outcome indicators, 52 are focused on body functions, 18 on activities and participation, and 7 on environmental factors. Exergaming is an effective non-pharmacological treatment. Future research should delve deeper into the dose-response relationship between intervention frequency and outcomes.