Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder that encompasses a wide range of behavioral and cognitive disorders. Due to deficits in perceptual-motor skills, these individuals often experience episodes of addiction in various aspects of functionality. In this sense, an integrated therapeutic approach is necessary, which takes into account the sensorimotor nuances appreciated by ASD.

To analyze the effects of dance on functionality and autonomy, in activities of daily living, of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This is a Blind Follow-up Randomized Clinical Trial, carried out at the Varginhense Foundation for Assistance to the Exceptional, in Varginha/MG. Children aged between 5 and 10 years old, diagnosed with ASD only, excluding comorbidities, were included. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected to characterize the sample. Subsequently, the children were assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the Pediatric Assessment of Disability Inventory by Adaptive Computerized Testing (PEDI- CAT). Then, the sample was randomized into two groups: the Experimental Group (EG), submitted to dance therapy and multidisciplinary treatment, and the Control Group (CG), accompanied only by multidisciplinary care. There were 14 dance therapy sessions (twice a week, 40-50 min/), composed of choreographies that explored the movements used during the ADLs. The evaluations were carried out by two independent and trained researchers during the pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one month after the end of the research (follow-up). Comparison analyzes were performed using the SPSS® software, version 22.0 and using the Shapiro wilk test. The significance level adopted for this study was p<0.05.

99 participants were screened for eligibility and 28 were selected (EG n=14; GC n=14). During the intervention, there were no significant differences for the intergroup comparison, in all PEDI-CAT domains (p>0.05). However, there were significant differences during the intragroup comparison in the pre/post-intervention for the EG, in the Activity of Daily Living domain: p=0.00; CI= -4.57 to -2.13. And in the pre-intervention/follow-up comparison: p= 0.00, CI=-3.87 to -1.27.

Therefore, it is concluded that dance therapy can positively impact the performance of children with autism in carrying out activities of daily living. However, there were no effects on other aspects of functionality. Thus, future research with n higher than that of the present study and that perform a greater number of sessions are suggested, since these were considered limiting factors for the work.

The study of therapies focused on the participation and creativity of children with ASD can contribute to the improvement of integrated, inclusive, and multidisciplinary interventions for this public that is rarely addressed in the physiotherapeutic field.