Decreased static and dynamic postural control in children with autism spectrum disorders.
The purpose of this study was to investigate postural control in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) during static and dynamic postural challenges. We evaluated postural sway during quiet stance and the center of pressure (COP) shift mechanism during gait initiation for 13 children with ASD and 12 age-matched typically developing (TD) children. Children with ASD produced 438% greater normalized mediolateral sway (p<0.05) and 104% greater normalized anteroposterior sway (p<0.05) than TD children. Consequently, normalized sway area was also significantly greater (p<0.05) in the group with ASD. Similarly, the maximum separation between the COP and center of mass (COM) during quiet stance was 100% greater in the anteroposterior direction (p<0.05) and 146% greater in the resultant direction (p<0.05) for children with ASD. No significant difference was observed in the mediolateral direction, in spite of the 123% greater separation detected in children with ASD. During gait initiation, no group differences were detected in the posterior COP shift mechanism, suggesting the mechanism for generating forward momentum is intact. However, significantly smaller lateral COP shifts (p<0.05) were observed in children with ASD, suggesting instability or an alternative strategy for generating momentum in the mediolateral direction. These results help to clarify some discrepancies in the literature, suggesting an impaired or immature control of posture, even under the most basic conditions when no afferent or sensory information have been removed or modified. Additionally, these findings provide new insight into dynamic balance in children with ASD.
Fournier
Kimberly A
KA
Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Texas-Pan American, TX, USA. fournierka@utpa.edu
Kimberg
Cara I
CI
Radonovich
Krestin J
KJ
Tillman
Mark D
MD
Chow
John W
JW
Lewis
Mark H
MH
Bodfish
James W
JW
Hass
Chris J
CJ
D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*
J Autism Dev Disord. 2003 Dec;33(6):643-52
14714933
Neurology. 2004 Dec 14;63(11):2056-61
15596750
Phys Ther. 2002 Jun;82(6):566-77
12036398
J Neurophysiol. 1998 Sep;80(3):1211-21
9744933
J Autism Dev Disord. 1992 Sep;22(3):419-32
1383190
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004 Oct;85(10):1593-8
15468016
Arch Neurol. 1981 Oct;38(10):646-9
7295109
Neuroreport. 1995 May 30;6(8):1211-4
7662910
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002 Oct;11(5):219-25
12469239
J Autism Dev Disord. 2002 Jun;32(3):231-8
12108625
Neurosci Lett. 2006 Oct 2;406(1-2):128-32
16901637
J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2003 Feb;13(1):49-56
12488086
Hum Mov Sci. 2003 Nov;22(4-5):527-48
14624832
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 1997 Apr;7(2):269-78
9142760
J Autism Dev Disord. 2006 Aug;36(6):757-67
16865551
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Nov;86(11):2172-6
16271566
Gait Posture. 1998 Aug 1;8(1):8-14
10200394
Brain Res Bull. 2005 Oct 30;67(4):327-34
16182941
Arch Neurol. 1993 Dec;50(12):1304-8
8257307
J Autism Dev Disord. 2007 Feb;37(2):321-8
16868847
Motor Control. 2006 Jul;10(3):244-64
17106133
Behav Brain Res. 2007 Jan 10;176(1):66-74
16997392
J Biomech. 2004 Sep;37(9):1421-6
15275850
J Autism Dev Disord. 2006 Jul;36(5):613-21
16609826
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2002 Sep 1;27(17):1911-7
12221357