Proprioception and vestibular alterations affect postural control in children with mild autism: A pilot study

Background: Individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit some type of motor control impairment, for instance, motor apraxia and history of gross motor delay that could lead to increased risk of fall. This pilot research was designed to assess and characterize static postural stability and create a starting point to better understand and describe postural control in children with mild autism. Method: We measured static postural control with center of pressure (COP) displacement in 10 children with mild autism during eight sensory conditions that challenge and cancel the visual, proprioceptive and vestibular systems. Results: : Our results showed that children with autism demonstrated increased postural sway in response to challenges to the proprioceptive and vestibular systems. Conclusion: Therefore, under appropriate, challenging conditions, static postural control instability can be detected in children with mild autism.