Effect of an 8-Week Pickleball Program for Adults With Autism: A Feasibility Trial With a Delayed-Control Design
Effects of an 8-Week Pickleball Intervention on Sensorimotor Function, Sleep, Depressive Symptoms, and Core Autism Features in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Feasibility Trial With a Delayed-Control Design
Penn State University
50 participants
Feb 2, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an 8-week, community-based pickleball program can improve sensory-motor function and reduce the severity of core autism symptoms in adults ages 18-45 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who can participate independently without a caregiver. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does participating in the pickleball program improve sensory-motor function (including visual-motor integration and proprioceptive bias), measured using the HaptiKart task and a pickleball skill assessment? 2. Does participating in the pickleball program reduce core autism symptom severity, measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd edition (SRS-2)? Researchers will compare an early-start pickleball group to a delayed-start control group (who continues usual activities at first) to see if the pickleball program leads to greater improvements in sensory-motor outcomes and ASD symptom severity. Participants will: * Complete an in-person baseline visit at a local public library to provide written consent, complete surveys (SRS-2, PROMIS Depression and Sleep measures, and WHOQOL-BREF), and complete a video game-based sensory-motor assessment (HaptiKart). * Be randomly assigned to either start pickleball classes immediately or after an initial delay period. * Attend pickleball classes twice per week for 8 weeks (90 minutes per class; 16 sessions total), led by trained instructors at community indoor court facilities. * Continue their usual activities during periods when they are not assigned to pickleball classes. * Complete a brief pickleball skill assessment during the intervention period at their first and last class. * Complete follow-up assessments after each phase of the study to repeat surveys and sensory-motor testing. * Participants will also wear a small activity monitor (ActiGraph) during pickleball sessions to measure in-class physical activity levels, and complete brief online check-ins about safety/injury and program feedback during the intervention period.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria8
- Aged 18-45 years
- Clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Able to participate in group-based activities without caregiver support
- Able to understand English and independently communicate without assistance
- Available for at least two sessions per week for the intervention dates
- Access to reliable transportation to the intervention site
- Able to provide informed consent (i.e., no legally authorized representative)
- Pre-exercise screening indicates medical clearance is not needed, based on ACSM guidelines
Exclusion Criteria8
- Clinical diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID)
- Does not have normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- Actively participating in a racquet sport ≥1 time per week
- Use of mobility aids
- Moderate-to-severe joint pain (WOMAC pain subscale)
- Neurologic conditions (cerebral palsy, severe head injury, progressive neurological disorders, epilepsy)
- Individuals who cannot provide their own informed consent (i.e., have a legally authorized representative)
- Individuals who require medical clearance for exercise based on the ACSM preparticipation screening questionnaire
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Interventions
Group-based beginner-friendly pickleball classes delivered in community indoor court facilities. Sessions occur twice per week for 8 weeks (16 sessions total), approximately 90 minutes per session, led by trained instructors.
Locations(1)
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NCT07432776