Effects of Aquatic Activities on Motor Performance and Physical Fitness of Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: a Systematic Review

This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on aquatic activities compared with land-based activities in motor performance and physical fitness of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, developmental coordination disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. A systematic search was conducted from four electronic databases from 2009 to July 2021, for two independent authors. PEDro scale assessed methodology quality and GRADE the quality of evidence. In addition, Cohen’s d effect size estimated the clinical evidence of aquatic activities compared with land-based activities. Five of nine studies included were classified as high methodological quality. Aquatic activities appeared to improve motor performance and physical fitness of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders. It was not possible to affirm whether aquatic activities were superior to land-based activities.