Evaluating a Treatment Package to Reduce Toe Walking and Improve Ankle Mobility in Children with Autism Spectrum...

This study evaluates the effects of a treatment package to reduce toe-walking (TW) in four male children with autism spectrum disorder, aged between three and six years, with persistent TW. The treatment package involved a combination of motor exercises, positive reinforcement, corrective feedback, and precision teaching. We used concurrent multiple probes across participants design, with RESA checks, to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. We measured the correct steps during probe sessions, the rate per minute of correct steps during the training, the ankle joint's passive range of motion, and social validity, measured through caregiver questionnaires before and after the intervention. The results indicated a decrease in TW across all participants, with a beneficial effect on the participants' gait patterns and overall physical mobility. It also underscored the potential for applying such an intervention to improve the daily lives of children with ASD. However, the study has several limitations, including not directly measuring generalization, the brief follow-up period post-intervention, and the absence of a component analysis to determine the differential effects of the intervention components.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40617-024-01035-8.