Play Preferences and Behavior of Preschool Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in the Clinical Environment

The play of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a valuable medium for assessment and intervention, and its analysis has the potential to aid diagnosis. This study investigated spontaneous play behavior and play object preferences for 24 preschool children with ASD in a typical occupational therapy clinical environment. Play behavior was rated and choice of play object noted at 10-second intervals from a 15-minute video recording of unstructured play. Statistical analyses indicated that play behavior was consistent with descriptions in the literature. In addition, the children demonstrated clear preferences for play objects in the form of popular characters (e.g., Thomas the Tank Engine) and those with sensorimotor properties. We propose that the inclusion of preferred play objects in a clinical environment may increase intrinsic motivation to play, and thereby enhance assessment and intervention.

A practical method of estimating energy expenditure during tennis play

This study aimed to develop a practical method of estimating energy expenditure (EE) during tennis. Twenty-four elite female tennis players first completed a tennis-specific graded test in which five different intensity levels were applied randomly. Each intensity level was intended to simulate a game of singles tennis and comprised six 14 s periods of activity alternated with 20 s of active rest. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously and each player's rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded at the end of each intensity level. Rate of energy expenditure (EEVO2) during the test was calculated using the sum of VO2 during play and the 'O-2 debt' during recovery, divided by the duration of the activity. There were significant individual linear relationships between EEVO2 and RPE, EEVO2 and HR, (rgreater than or equal to0.89 rgreater than or equal to0.93; p