Methodology to Promote Physical Activity Monitoring Adherence in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective physical activity (PA) monitoring accelerometry is both costly and time consuming. Furthermore, overall adherence to a monitoring protocol is often complicated by disability. Therefore, it is essential that strategies for supporting accelerometer wear for youth with disabilities are maximized. The purpose of this perspective was to provide researchers a set of efficacious PA monitoring strategies based on the retrospective examination of support methodology on adherence rates for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Accelerometer data were collected from 163 participants with ASD in three independent cohorts. Each cohort was provided a varying set of support strategies to help maximize adherence. Chi-square analysis was used to determine differences in adherence between each cohort. Adherence rates significantly increased from 51.9% in cohort 1 to 88.7% in cohort 2 [χ (1) = 18.333,