A pilot study: coordination of precision grip in children and adolescents with high functioning autism.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study compared temporal coordination during a precision grip task between 13 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who were high functioning and 13 peers with typical development.


METHODS
Temporal coordination between grip and load forces was measured using latency between onset of grip and load forces, grip force at onset of load force, peak grip force (PGF), and time to PGF.


RESULTS
Compared with peers with typical development, participants with ASD demonstrated prolonged latency between grip and load forces, elevated grip force at onset of load force, and increased movement variability. PGF and time to PGF were not significantly different between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate temporal dyscoordination in participants with ASD. The findings also enhance our understanding of motor coordination deficits in persons with ASD and have theoretical as well as clinical implications.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Fabian J
FJ
David
Grace T
GT
Baranek
Carol A
CA
Giuliani
Vicki S
VS
Mercer
Michele D
MD
Poe
Deborah E
DE
Thorpe
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001259:Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009069:Movement Disorders; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors