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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
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Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults
Published on: November 7, 2014
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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.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|December 12, 2025
Summary
Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show increased gait variability compared to typically developing peers, indicating less consistent motor control. Early identification of these gait patterns may inform future interventions for motor development in ASD.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Motor impairments, including atypical gait, are common in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- Gait patterns in early development within ASD populations are understudied.
- Understanding early motor differences is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze spatiotemporal gait parameters and their variability in toddlers with ASD.
- To compare gait characteristics of toddlers with ASD to typically developing (TD) peers.
- To explore correlations between gait parameters and motor skills in young children.
Main Methods:
- Included 12 toddlers with ASD and 9 TD toddlers (18-30 months) with independent walking.
- Extracted spatiotemporal gait parameters from laboratory walking recordings.
- Assessed gait variability using coefficients of variation; tested group differences and correlations.
Main Results:
- ASD toddlers exhibited significantly increased gait variability compared to TD peers.
- Key parameters showing higher variability in ASD included stride length, step length, stance time, and stride time.
- Findings suggest less consistent motor control in toddlers with ASD.
Conclusions:
- Objective gait assessment is feasible in toddlers with ASD.
- Atypical gait patterns in early development warrant further investigation in larger samples.
- Early identification of gait differences may guide interventions to improve motor and broader developmental outcomes in ASD.
