Effect of exercise and physical activity in autism: an umbrella review of evidence synthesis

Physical activity is widely recommended to enhance social, behavioral, and health outcomes in youth with autism spectrum disorder, although intervention success varies depending on delivery conditions. This umbrella review synthesizes existing review evidence to examine how setting, facilitator expertise, family involvement, and group or individual formats influence effectiveness while translating these insights into actionable strategies for real world programs. Following systematic search and quality assessment protocols across major databases, findings indicate that structured, low stimulation environments, well trained facilitators, and caregiver support yield the strongest improvements in social communication, physical fitness, and reduced stereotyped behaviors. Sustained success relies on individualized goal setting, gradual dosage progression, and seamless integration into daily routines, though current evidence remains constrained by limited representation of females, older age groups, and long term follow up data.