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Pickleball Program for Adults with Autism

This study is looking at whether an 8-week pickleball program can help adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve their sensory-motor skills and reduce autism symptoms. The program involves group-based, beginner-friendly pickleball classes twice a week for 8 weeks, led by trained instructors. Researchers will measure changes in sensory-motor function using a task called HaptiKart and assess autism symptom severity using a questionnaire called the Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd edition (SRS-2). You may be able to join if you are an adult aged 18-45 with an ASD diagnosis, can participate in group activities without a caregiver, and have reliable transportation. The study aims to enroll 50 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This study is a randomized, delayed-control trial involving 50 participants. You would be assigned to either start the pickleball program right away or after a delay.
What's involved
You would participate in 16 pickleball sessions over 8 weeks, with each session lasting about 90 minutes. You would also complete assessments at the beginning, after about 10 weeks, and again after about 18 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your progress would be followed for approximately 18 to 20 weeks after you enroll in the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07432776

Effect of an 8-Week Pickleball Program for Adults With Autism: A Feasibility Trial With a Delayed-Control Design

Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 18–45InterventionalTreatment
Penn State University
~50 participants
Updated 2026-02-25 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Pickleball Program (Community-Based)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Sensory-Motor Function (HaptiKart task outcomes)
Measured over T1 (Week 0, enrollment) may occur up to 4 weeks prior to initiation of pickleball intervention; T2 approximately 10 weeks after baseline (up to 12 weeks); T3 approximately 18 weeks after baseline (up to 20 weeks).
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

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NCT07432776

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Penn State Harrisburg

    Middletown, Pennsylvaniastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Chris Sciammana, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Penn State College of Medicine
  • Daniel E Lidstone, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Penn State Harrisburg

Who to contact

Daniel E Lidstone, Ph.D.
[email protected]
828-719-7002
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Aged 18-45 years
Clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Able to participate in group-based activities without caregiver support
Able to understand English and independently communicate without assistance
Available for at least two sessions per week for the intervention dates
Access to reliable transportation to the intervention site
Able to provide informed consent (i.e., no legally authorized representative)
Pre-exercise screening indicates medical clearance is not needed, based on ACSM guidelines

Exclusion

Clinical diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID)
Does not have normal or corrected-to-normal vision
Actively participating in a racquet sport ≥1 time per week
Use of mobility aids
Moderate-to-severe joint pain (WOMAC pain subscale)
Neurologic conditions (cerebral palsy, severe head injury, progressive neurological disorders, epilepsy)
Individuals who cannot provide their own informed consent (i.e., have a legally authorized representative)
Individuals who require medical clearance for exercise based on the ACSM preparticipation screening questionnaire

What this trial measures

  • Sensory-Motor Function (HaptiKart task outcomes)T1 (Week 0, enrollment) may occur up to 4 weeks prior to initiation of pickleball intervention; T2 approximately 10 weeks after baseline (up to 12 weeks); T3 approximately 18 weeks after baseline (up to 20 weeks).

    Sensory-motor integration and proprioceptive bias measured using the HaptiKart videogame task.

  • Autism Symptom Severity (SRS-2 Total Score)T1 (Week 0, enrollment) may occur up to 4 weeks prior to initiation of pickleball intervention; T2 approximately 10 weeks after baseline (up to 12 weeks); T3 approximately 18 weeks after baseline (up to 20 weeks).

    Core autism symptom severity measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd edition (SRS-2), adult self-report, total score. The SRS-2 consists of 65 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = not true; 4 = almost always true). Raw total scores range from 0 to 195. Higher scores indicate greater severity of autism-related social impairment.