Community-based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals

Nicholas E Fears; Gabriela M C Sherrod; Tylan N Templin; Nicoleta L Bugnariu; Rita M Patterson; Haylie L Miller

doi:10.1002/aur.2889

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Community-based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals

Journal article

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Community-based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals

Nicholas E Fears, Gabriela M C Sherrod, Tylan N Templin, Nicoleta L Bugnariu, Rita M Patterson and Haylie L Miller

Autism research, Vol.16(3), pp.543-557

03/2023

DOI: 10.1002/aur.2889

PMID: 36627838

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Abstract

Autistic individuals exhibit significant sensorimotor differences. Postural stability and control are foundational motor skills for successfully performing many activities of daily living. In neurotypical development, postural stability and control develop throughout childhood and adolescence. In autistic development, previous studies have focused primarily on individual age groups (e.g., childhood, adolescence, adulthood) or only controlled for age using age-matching. Here, we examined the age trajectories of postural stability and control in autism from childhood through adolescents using standardized clinical assessments. In study 1, we tested the postural stability of autistic (n = 27) and neurotypical (n = 41) children, adolescents, and young adults aged 7-20 years during quiet standing on a force plate in three visual conditions: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and eyes open with the head in a translucent dome (Dome). Postural sway variability decreased as age increased for both groups, but autistic participants showed greater variability than neurotypical participants across age. In study 2, we tested autistic (n = 21) and neurotypical (n = 32) children and adolescents aged 7-16 years during a dynamic postural control task with nine targets. Postural control efficiency increased as age increased for both groups, but autistic participants were less efficient compared to neurotypical participants across age. Together, these results indicate that autistic individuals have a similar age trajectory for postural stability and control compared to neurotypical individuals, but have lower postural stability and control overall.

Activities of Daily Living

Adolescent

Adult

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autistic Disorder

Child

Humans

Motor Skills

Postural Balance

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Community-based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals
Creators: Nicholas E Fears - Louisiana State University
Gabriela M C Sherrod - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Tylan N Templin - University of North Texas
Nicoleta L Bugnariu - University of the Pacific
Rita M Patterson - University of North Texas
Haylie L Miller - University of North Texas
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Autism research, Vol.16(3), pp.543-557
DOI: 10.1002/aur.2889
PMID: 36627838
NLM abbreviation: Autism Res
ISSN: 1939-3792
eISSN: 1939-3806
Grant note: K01 MH107774 / NIMH NIH HHS L30 MH117745 / NIMH NIH HHS SMA-1514495 / National Science Foundation UL1 TR001105 / NCATS NIH HHS KL2 TR001103 / NCATS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 03/2023
Academic Unit: Health, Sport, and Human Physiology
Record Identifier: 9985219858602771

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