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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults
Published on: November 7, 2014
Higher Intraindividual Gait Variability in Autistic Toddlers: A Pilot Study
Joana M Almeida Osório1, Baptiste Ulrich-Ischer2,3, Laura F Mendes4
1Autism Spectrum Disorders Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Joana.Almeida-Osorio@chuv.ch.
Purpose:
Motor impairments are pervasive in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with atypical gait patterns often observed but understudied in early development. The aim of this pilot study was to analyze spatiotemporal gait parameters and variability in toddlers with ASD compared to typically developing (TD) peers.
Methods:
The study included 12 ASD and 9 TD male toddlers, aged 18-30 months, walking independently. We extracted spatiotemporal gait parameters from laboratory recordings of walking. Gait variability was assessed via coefficients of variation for each parameter. Group differences were tested and exploratory correlations between gait parameters and motor skills were assessed.
Results:
Results indicated increased gait variability in the ASD group across parameters, suggesting less consistent motor control. Significant differences in variability were observed in stride length, step length, stance time, and stride time.
Conclusion:
This pilot study confirms that an objective assessment of gait is feasible in toddlers with ASD. Future research is needed to replicate the results in a larger sample, to explore underlying neurological mechanisms, as well as the impact of atypical gait maturation on other developmental domains. Early identification of atypical gait patterns could aid in designing interventions targeting motor development, potentially improving broader developmental outcomes in ASD.
