Table 1: Study design and key findings.

Author(s), year,
Country
Study Design Sample Size
(attrition %)
Age (Range) M (SD) Exposure Platform Key Findings
Anderson-Hanley
et al. [11],
USA
Pre–post test: two independent pilot studies N = 24 (8.3%); two
participants
dropped out
Pilot I:
10–18 years
14.8 (2.7)
Pilot II:
8–21 years
13.2 (3.8)
Pilot I: one session for
20 minutes
Pilot II: one session
for 20 minutes
DDR;
Cybercycling
Participants in both exergaming
groups indicated significant improvement
in behavioral control
and executive functions including
working memory, task-switching
capacity, and inhibition.
Golden and
Getchell [12], USA
Case-control study N = 19 (10.5%);
ASD = 9;
TD= 8;
2 participants
dropped out.
ASD: 10.5 (0.88)
TD: 10.46 (1.22)
Four sessions in total,
20 minutes for each
session.
Xbox Kinect Participants with ASD spent 76% of
time in MVPA during exergaming
compared with 99% during
walking. Although exergaming
may not replace walking and
other forms of physical activities,
it can increase overall physical
activity levels.
Getchell et al. [13], USA Case-control study N = 30;
ASD = 15;
TD= 15;
No participants
dropped out.
ASD: 17.5 (2.4)
TD: 17.23 (4.1)
Two or three sessions
per week over a
2-week period,
20 min for each
session.
Nintendo Wii
Sport; Wii
Fit; DDR
Expended energy in ASD and TD
groups was not significantly different
in activities, such as running,
walking, and exergaming.
The ASD group had over 75% of
exergaming time in MVPA when
playing DDR.
Edwards et al. [14],
Australia
Case-control study N = 30;
ASD = 15;
TD= 15;
No participant
dropped out.
6–10 years
TD: 7.89 (1.45)
ASD: 7.64 (1.12)
TD: one session per
week for 6 weeks,
50 min for each
session.
ASD: three sessions per
week for 2 weeks,
45–60 min per session
Xbox Kinect Exergames may not provide
adequate opportunities to develop
actual motor skills for ASD and
TD groups. But
self-perceived skills significantly
increased after the exergaming
intervention.
Dickinson and
Place [15],
England
RCT N = 100
Intervention = 50
Control = 50
No participant
dropped out.
5–15 years 15-minute session,
three sessions per
week for three
academic semesters.
Nintendo Wii Benefits of exergaming intervention
were identified in participants’
fitness levels, such as cardiorespiratory
function, explosive
strength, speed, agility, and abdominal
strength and endurance.

Note: ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder; DDR: … ; MVPA: … ; Randomized Controlled Trial; TD: Typically Developing.