Augmented reality as a tool for enhancing physical health, motivation, and health education in children with autism spectrum disorder: A case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of augmented reality (AR) as an innovative tool for enhancing physical health, motivation, and health education among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a population that frequently encounters difficulties in engaging in regular physical activity. A quasi-experimental case study design was employed, involving ten children aged 10 to 14 years who were formally diagnosed with ASD and randomly assigned to either an experimental group participating in AR-based physical activities or a control group following conventional exercise sessions. The intervention was implemented over a six-week period, with two supervised sessions per week, and data were collected before and after the program using objective measures of physical activity levels, motor coordination, and cardiorespiratory endurance, complemented by structured observations of motivation and engagement. The findings indicate that children exposed to AR-based activities achieved substantially greater improvements than those in the control group, including increased weekly physical activity, enhanced motor coordination, improved endurance, and higher levels of motivation and enjoyment during physical exercise. These results suggest that the immersive and interactive nature of AR can effectively reduce motivational barriers and support active participation among children with ASD. The study concludes that augmented reality represents a promising and effective approach for improving both physical health outcomes and motivational dimensions in this population. From a practical perspective, integrating AR into educational and therapeutic settings can assist educators, therapists, and healthcare professionals in designing engaging, inclusive, and motivating physical activity programs that promote healthy behaviors, autonomy, and overall quality of life for children with ASD.