Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Coordination Disorder, and typical development differ in characteristics of dynamic postural control: A preliminary study.
Haylie L Miller, Priscila M Caçola, Gabriela M Sherrod and 2 others
PMID 30245240WHAT IT FOUND
In 10 children with ASD, 8 controls and 10 with DCD, children with ASD moved side-to-side more slowly than controls or children with DCD, while children with DCD had less fluid front-to-back movement.
This is preliminary, not a tested treatment.
Key findings
01Children with ASD had lower side-to-side center of pressure velocity than controls or children with DCD.
02Children with ASD had lower side-to-side center of pressure acceleration than controls or children with DCD.
03Children with DCD had higher front-to-back center of pressure acceleration than controls or children with ASD.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The paper calls the study preliminary and says the small sample limits generalizability. Only 10 children with ASD, 8 controls and 10 children with DCD were tested. Children had IQ scores above 69 and no seizure disorders, neurological abnormalities or medications known to impair motor function, so the results may not apply to more medically or cognitively complex children. No intervention was tested, so the findings do not show that changing these movement patterns improves function or reduces falls.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include an author conflict-of-interest or funding declaration. The publication types list NIH extramural and U.S. Government non-PHS research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these movement patterns as a diagnostic test or a treatment target. The study was preliminary, included only 10 children with ASD, 8 controls and 10 children with DCD, and did not test whether the patterns cause falls or improve with therapy.