A Comparative Evaluation of Gait between Children with Autism and Typically Developing Matched Controls

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Anecdotal evidence suggests differences in gait for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Limited empirical research exists to confirm these observations.
• Children with ASD often display delayed motor skills, necessitating investigation into walking patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a detailed lower-extremity gait analysis comparing children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children.
• To identify specific gait parameter differences during walking between the two groups.

Main Methods:

• Gait analysis was performed on children aged 5-12 years with ASD and age/gender-matched TD controls.
• Gait parameters were normalized, and the gait cycle was segmented into seven sub-phases.
• Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was assessed using the Model Statistic procedure for matched pairs.

Main Results:

• Children with ASD demonstrated significant differences throughout the gait cycle in hip, knee, and ankle joint positions.
• Significant variations were observed in vertical and anterior/posterior ground reaction forces in children with ASD.
• The findings underscore the heterogeneity of ASD, with unique gait characteristics identified.

Conclusions:

• Motor movement differences during gait may represent a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder.
• The observed unique gait patterns in children with ASD support the need for individualized therapeutic interventions.
• Precision medicine approaches, considering individual movement characteristics, are recommended for therapeutic interventions in ASD.