Decreased static and dynamic postural control in children with autism spectrum disorders
Open accessAbstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate postural control in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) during static and dynamic postural challenges. We evaluated postural sway during quiet stance and the center of pressure (COP) shift mechanism during gait initiation for 13 children with ASD and 12 age-matched typically developing (TD) children. Children with ASD produced 438% greater normalized mediolateral sway (p<0.05) and 104% greater normalized anteroposterior sway (p<0.05) than TD children. Consequently, normalized sway area was also significantly greater (p<0.05) in the group with ASD. Similarly, the maximum separation between the COP and center of mass (COM) during quiet stance was 100% greater in the anteroposterior direction (p<0.05) and 146% greater in the resultant direction (p<0.05) for children with ASD. No significant difference was observed in the mediolateral direction, in spite of the 123% greater separation detected in children with ASD. During gait initiation, no group differences were detected in the posterior COP shift mechanism, suggesting the mechanism for generating forward momentum is intact. However, significantly smaller lateral COP shifts (p<0.05) were observed in children with ASD, suggesting instability or an alternative strategy for generating momentum in the mediolateral direction. These results help to clarify some discrepancies in the literature, suggesting an impaired or immature control of posture, even under the most basic conditions when no afferent or sensory information have been removed or modified. Additionally, these findings provide new insight into dynamic balance in children with ASD.
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Fournier et al. reported greater sway and COP-COM distance in ASD during quiet standing, with similar gait initiation.
“Fournier et al. [24] reported greater sway and COP–center of mass (COM) distance in ASD during quiet standing, with similar gait initiation.”
From Static and dynamic balance in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared with typically developing peers: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [24]
The Results report greater sway and greater COP–COM separation in the anteroposterior and resultant directions during quiet standing in children with ASD. Gait initiation was not wholly similar: posterior COP displacement did not differ between groups, but lateral COP displacement was significantly smaller in the ASD group (Results; page not provided). (LLM, conf=0.91)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMost studies reported balance deficits in autism spectrum disorder, particularly under multisensory or cognitively demanding conditions.
“Most studies reported deficits, particularly under multisensory or cognitively demanding conditions. [23–25, 28–33, 36]”
From Static and dynamic balance in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared with typically developing peers: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [24]
The Abstract (page not supplied) reports prior findings of reduced postural stability in people with ASD when sensory inputs were removed or modified. The Discussion (page not supplied) also reports instability during quiet standing, but the paper does not establish the claim about cognitively demanding conditions. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredFournier et al. found poor postural control in children with autism.
“Fournier et al. (94), among others (95, 96), have found poor postural control in children with autism.”
From Autism as a disorder of prediction (2014) · cites this paper as [94]
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References 28 · Cited by 182
- Authors
- Fournier, K. A., Kimberg, C. I., Radonovich, K. J., Tillman, M. D., Chow, J. W., Lewis, M. H., Bodfish, J. W., & Hass, C. J.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas System (US)
- University of Florida (US)
- Methodist Rehabilitation (US)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Corresponding author
- Fournier, Kimberly A.
- Venue
- Gait & Posture
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-05
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 6-9
- ISSN
- 0966-6362 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2919314
- OpenAlex
- W1980078888
- Cited by
- 182
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 23.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Gait & Posture (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
- UNC Libraries
- Funders
- Autism Speaks (AS1651)
- Organization for Autism Research
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Mental Health (R21MH085254, R01MH073402)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Children's Physical and Motor Development
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, postural control, postural sway, center of pressure, gait initiation, dynamic balance, children, quiet standing, mediolateral sway, anteroposterior sway, center of mass
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Gait, Humans, Posture, Proprioception, Matched-Pair Analysis
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