Kinetic sand to improve functional reach and hand‑eye coordination in children with autism
Effects of Kinetic Sand on Functional Reach and Eye-Hand Coordination in Children With Autism
This program will try kinetic sand play for six weeks to see if it helps children aged 6–12 with mild to moderate autism improve their functional reach and eye‑hand coordination.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 17 (estimated) |
| Ages | 6 Years to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Riphah International University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lahore, Punjab Province) |
| Trial ID | NCT07578987 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a quasi‑experimental pre‑post single‑group study enrolling 17 children aged 6–12 with mild to moderate autism at pediatric therapy clinics and special education centers in Lahore. Participants will take part in supervised kinetic sand play sessions for 30 minutes, three times per week for six weeks, using activities such as molding, searching for hidden items, and free play to target grip strength, sensory input, and coordination. Eye‑hand coordination and functional reach will be measured before and after the intervention using the Purdue Pegboard Test and the Functional Reach Test, and data will be analyzed in SPSS using paired t‑tests or non‑parametric equivalents. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethical Committee of Riphah International University and the protocol uses convenient sampling with exclusion of children who have severe neurological or musculoskeletal conditions or are receiving intensive overlapping therapies.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 6–12 with mild to moderate autism who have measurable impairments in functional reach or eye‑hand coordination and who can follow simple instructions.
Not a fit: Children with severe intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, severe visual impairment, musculoskeletal deformities, or those already receiving intensive occupational or physical therapy targeting these skills are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, this low‑cost, play‑based intervention could improve fine motor skills and reach, making daily tasks like dressing, eating, and classroom activities easier for participating children.
How similar studies have performed: Some sensory play and sand‑based interventions have shown modest benefits for fine motor skills and sensory processing in children, but kinetic sand‑specific evidence is limited and this single‑group design is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * According to DSM-5 criteria, characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction * Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior or interests * Children demonstrating measurable impairments in functional reach and eye-hand coordination * Able to follow instructions Exclusion Criteria: * Children with severe intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or other neurological conditions that significantly impair motor function * Children currently receiving other intensive occupational or physical therapy targeting functional reach or eye-hand coordination * Presence of musculoskeletal deformities, severe visual impairments, or other medical conditions independently affecting motor skills or coordination
Where this trial is running
Lahore, Punjab Province
- Imran Amjad — Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Huma Mumtaz, MS-PT — Riphah International University
- Study coordinator: Imran Amjad, PhD
- Email: imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk
- Phone: 9233224390125
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.