Postural Control Impairments in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Critical Review of Current Literature

Abstract

Context:Motor impairments in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been frequently reported. In this review, we narrow our focus on postural control impairments to summarize current literature for patterns, underlying mechanisms, and determinants of posture in this population.Evidence Acquisition:A literature search was conducted through Medline, ISI web of Knowledge, Scopus and Google Scholar to include studies between 1992 and February 2013.Results:Individuals with ASD have problems in maintaining postural control in infancy that well persists into later years. However, the patterns and underlying mechanisms are still unclear.Conclusions:Examining postural control as an endophenotype or early diagnostic marker of autism is a conceptual premise which should be considered in future investigations. At the end of the review, methodological recommendations on the assessment of postural control have also been provided.

A Multidisciplinary Perspective on Motor Impairment as an Early Behavioural Marker in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…The wide base of support from the increased step width correlates well with deficits identified in the postural control system in the ASD population. However, in a review by Memari and colleagues, it was highlighted that due to the heterogeneity of ASD groups studied to date, no definitive conclusions could be drawn with respect to determinants of posture (Memari, Ghanouni, Shayestehfar, & Ghaheri, 2014). This is consistent across studies utilising different techniques to assess postural control (Fournier, Amano, Radonovich, Bleser, & Hass, 2014;Memari, Ghanouni, Shayestehfar, Ziaee, & Moshayedi, 2014;Minshew, Sung, Jones, & Furman, 2004).…”

“…The authors suggest their findings may explain why individuals with ASD have such problems with motor coordination given that somatosensory input may be less accurate than visual information for motor control. However, in a review by Memari and colleagues, it was highlighted that due to the heterogeneity of ASD groups studied to date, no definitive conclusions could be drawn with respect to determinants of posture (Memari, Ghanouni, Shayestehfar, & Ghaheri, 2014). The study suggested that the severity of disorder, level of IQ, co-occurrence of other psychiatric or neurological disorders, socio-demographic variables, and general motor impairments are all likely to contribute to postural control patterns in ASD.…”

Toe Walking Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder Subjects: A Systematic Review

“…Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 1 in 68 children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012) that results in an impairment of socio-communicative interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2015). Even if the ASD motor profile is heterogeneous and not all the ASD subjects will have motor difficulty (Papadopoulos et al, 2011), there is increasing evidence that ASD subjects have also motor impairments, expressed as alterations in motor milestone development (Liu, 2012;Provost, Lopez, & Heimerl, 2007), clumsiness (Ghaziuddin & Butler, 1998), disturbances in reach-to-grasp movements (Mari, Castiello, Marks, Marraffa, & Prior, 2003), alterations of gross and fine motor movements (Noterdaeme, Mildenberger, Minow, & Amorosa, 2002), and postural control impairment (Fournier, Amano, Radonovich, Bleser, & Hass, 2014;Memari, Ghanouni, Shayestehfar, & Ghaheri, 2014). In this perspective, motor deficits may be considered an ASD core clinical feature and could be useful in ASD diagnosis (Fournier, Hass, Naik, Lodha, & Cauraugh, 2010;Teitelbaum, Teitelbaum, Nye, Fryman, & Maurer, 1998).…”

Assessment of presentation patterns, clinical severity, and sensorial mechanism of tip‐toe behavior in severe ASD subjects with intellectual disability: A cohort observational study

“…Motor impairments observed in individuals with ASD have been categorized as "associated symptoms" [Ming, Brimacombe, & Wagner, 2007]. Although ASD is not associated with severe motor disturbances, many studies have reported motor deficits including alterations in motor milestone development [Provost, Lopez, & Heimerl, 2007;Teitelbaum, Teitelbaum, Nye, Fryman, & Maurer, 1998], clumsiness, motor incoordination, disturbances in reach-to-grasp movements [Ghaziuddin & Butler, 1998;Mari, Castiello, Marks, Marraffa, & Prior, 2003;Miyahara et al, 1997], deficits in gross and fine motor movements [Noterdaeme, Mildenberger, Minow, & Amorosa, 2002], and impaired postural control [Kohen-Raz, Volkmar, & Cohen, 1992;Memari, Ghanouni, Shayestehfar, & Ghaheri, 2014;Minshew, Sung, Jones, & Furman, 2004]. There have been also many studies of motor delays in high risk infants, many of which are associated with ASD outcomes [Bhat, Landa, & Galloway, 2011;Iverson & Wozniak, 2007;Landa & Garrett-Mayer, 2006].…”