Combined Gait and Grasping in Autistic and Non-Autistic Youths

Overview

Journal Dev Neurorehabil

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Specialties Neurology
Pediatrics
Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2022 Mar 15

PMID 35289701

Authors

A H Mason

K A Pickett

A S Padilla

B G Travers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study was designed to extend research on motor skill development in autism spectrum disorder using a dual-task skill. Nine autistic and 18 non-autistic youths walked without grasping or while reaching to grasp a small or large object. Step extremity ratio, percent time in double support, and normalized speed were quantified. We hypothesized that gait would differ between autistic and non-autistic youth and that differences would be moderated by the phase (approach and grasp) and the complexity of the task (walking and grasping versus walking alone). Although gait parameters were similar during the walking-only trials, the combined task resulted in slower speed and shorter steps in autistic youth, particularly during the grasp phase. These findings, while in a small sample, offer preliminary evidence that autistic youth who show typical gait during simple assessments of motor ability may have difficulties in more complex tasks that require the coordination of movements.

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