Fundamental Movement Skills–CrossFit program to improve school readiness in preschool children with autism

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the FMS-CrossFit Training Program (FCTP) to Improve School Readiness in Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This will test whether a 12-week Fundamental Movement Skills–CrossFit program helps preschool children with autism (ages 3–6) improve school readiness, motor skills, and self-regulation compared with usual care.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 184 (estimated)
• Ages: 3 Years to 6 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Peking University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Fuzhou, Fujian)
• Trial ID: NCT07532395 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial will enroll 184 children with autism aged 3–6 years and randomly assign them to a 12-week Fundamental Movement Skills–CrossFit Training Program (FCTP) or a treatment-as-usual control group. The FCTP combines progressive fundamental movement skill training with CrossFit-style circuit sessions designed to promote motor competence, social interaction, and self-regulation. Primary outcomes focus on school readiness measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), with secondary outcomes including motor development, executive function, social responsiveness, and biomarker analyses. Assessments occur at baseline, mid-intervention (8 weeks), end of intervention (12 weeks), and follow-up (20 weeks).

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Preschool children aged 3–6 years with a confirmed ASD diagnosis who can follow basic verbal instructions and whose caregivers can provide written informed consent are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Children with severe neurological or major psychiatric comorbidities, significant sensory or intellectual impairments, recent participation in structured exercise programs, or medical contraindications to physical activity may not benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve school readiness, motor competence, social interaction, and self-regulation in preschoolers with autism.

How similar studies have performed: Previous exercise and fundamental movement skill programs have shown promise for improving motor and social outcomes in children with ASD, but combining FMS with CrossFit-style circuit training in preschoolers is relatively novel and not yet well-established.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age 3-6 years;
2. confirmed ASD diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria or the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2);
3. ability to comprehend basic verbal instructions;
4. written informed consent from parent/caregiver.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. participation in structured exercise programs within the preceding 6 months;
2. comorbid severe neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, phenylketonuria, fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis) or major psychiatric conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder);
3. visual, auditory or intellectual impairments that would interfere with participation;
4. history of significant head trauma or brain injury;
5. medical contraindications to physical activity ;
6. other factors deemed unsuitable for program participation by the research team.

Where this trial is running

Fuzhou, Fujian

• Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's Hospital — Fuzhou, Fujian, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Yuelong Ji, PHD — Peking University
• Study coordinator: Yuelong Ji, PHD

Conditions Autism Spectrum Disorder; CrossFit