Research on static standing and walking of autism spectrum disorder children under different sensory information input_West China Medical Journal

Authors：

FENG Amei ^1,2 ,  DU Xiaoxia ^1,2 , ZHANG Qi ^1,2 , MA Tingting ^1,2

1. Pediatric Physical Therapy Department, Beijing Bo’ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing 100068, P. R. China;
2. Rehabilitation Medical College, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P. R. China;

Corresponding?author：

DU Xiaoxia, Email: 364906784@qq.com

Keywords：

Autism spectrum disorder; posture control; balance; sensory information; walking

DOI：

10.7507/1002-0179.202505028

Video：

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Objective To explore the postural control of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) under different sensory information inputs. Methods A total of 15 ASD children aged 4-12 years who visited the National Autism Center of China Rehabilitation Research Center between November 2022 and December 2024 were randomly selected, and 15 typically developmental (TD) children matched in age and gender were recruited from the children of staff at the China Rehabilitation Research Center. Postural control tests during static standing and walking were conducted respectively. The postural control and walking abilities under different conditions were compared between the two groups of children, and the standing and walking abilities across these conditions within each group were compared to analyze the effects of the conditions on standing and walking. Results There were statistically significant differences between the two groups of children in the center of pressure (COP) 95% confidence ellipse area (P<0.001) and COP path length (P<0.001) during static standing. There was a statistically significant difference in the gait line length difference between the two groups of children when walking at a speed of 1.0 km/h (P<0.001), but no statistically significant difference when walking at a speed of 2.0 km/h (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the anterior-posterior position between the two groups of children (P>0.05). For ASD children, there were statistically significant differences in the COP 95% confidence ellipse area and COP path length when standing with eyes open and closed (P<0.05), while for TD children, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). When walking at different speeds, there were statistically significant differences in the gait line length difference and the anterior-posterior position among ASD children (P<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference among TD children (P>0.05). Conclusions Compared with TD children, ASD children have postural control disorders, and poor walking stability and coordination ability. Under different sensory input conditions, the postural control ability of ASD children varies greatly. Sensory-motor intervention should be carried out for ASD children to improve their postural control ability, walking stability and coordination ability.

Citation： FENG Amei, DU Xiaoxia, ZHANG Qi, MA Tingting. Research on static standing and walking of autism spectrum disorder children under different sensory information input. West China Medical Journal, 2026, 41(1): 59-64. doi: 10.7507/1002-0179.202505028 Copy

1.	Fears NE, Sherrod GMC, Templin TN, et al. Community-based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals. Autism Res, 2023, 16(3): 543-557.
2.	Martín-Díaz P, Cuesta-Gómez A, Fernádez-González P, et al. Balance and motor skills differences between children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder and neurotypically developing. Autism Res, 2024, 17(8): 1545-1555.
3.	Lidstone DE, Singhala M, Wang LJ, et al. HaptiKart: an engaging videogame reveals elevated proprioceptive bias in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. PLOS Digit Health, 2025, 4(6): e0000879.
4.	Pettinato F, Valle MS, Cioni M, et al. Dynamical complexity of postural control system in autism spectrum disorder: a feasibility study of linear and non-linear measures in posturographic analysis of upright posture. J Neuroeng Rehabil, 2024, 21(1): 225.
5.	Qu H, Wang J, Shirley DJ, et al. Atypical postural control variability and coordination persist into middle and older adulthood in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res, 2025, 18(4): 752-764.
6.	Rinehart NJ, Tonge BJ, Bradshaw JL, et al. Gait function in high-functioning autism and Asperger’s disorder: evidence for basal-ganglia and cerebellar involvement?. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2006, 15(5): 256-264.
7.	Martel M, Finos L, Bahmad S, et al. Motor deficits in autism differ from that of developmental coordination disorder. Autism, 2024, 28(2): 415-432.
8.	Buyuktaskin D, Iseri E, Guney E, et al. Somatosensory temporal discrimination in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res, 2021, 14(4): 656-667.
9.	American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2013.
10.	Winter DA. Human balance and posture control during standing and walking. Gait Posture, 1995, 3(4): 193-214.
11.	Prieto TE, Myklebust JB, Hoffmann RG, et al. Measures of postural steadiness: differences between healthy young and elderly adults. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 1996, 43(9): 956-966.
12.	Mancini M, Horak FB. The relevance of clinical balance assessment tools to differentiate balance deficits. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med, 2010, 46(2): 239-248.
13.	Duarte M, Freitas SM. Revision of posturography based on force plate for balance evaluation. Rev Bras Fisioter, 2010, 14(3): 183-192.
14.	Raymakers JA, Samson MM, Verhaar HJ. The assessment of body sway and the choice of the stability parameter(s). Gait Posture, 2005, 21(1): 48-58.
15.	Sadeghi H, Allard P, Prince F, et al. Symmetry and limb dominance in able-bodied gait: a review. Gait Posture, 2000, 12(1): 34-45.
16.	Balasubramanian CK, Bowden MG, Neptune RR, et al. Relationship between step length asymmetry and walking performance in subjects with chronic hemiparesis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2007, 88(1): 43-49.
17.	Hof AL. The ‘extrapolated center of mass’ concept suggests a simple control of balance in walking. Hum Mov Sci, 2008, 27(1): 112-125.
18.	Wang Z, Magnon GC, White SP, et al. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder show abnormalities during initial and subsequent phases of precision gripping. J Neurophysiol, 2015, 113(7): 1989-2001.

1. Fears NE, Sherrod GMC, Templin TN, et al. Community-based postural control assessment in autistic individuals indicates a similar but delayed trajectory compared to neurotypical individuals. Autism Res, 2023, 16(3): 543-557.
2. Martín-Díaz P, Cuesta-Gómez A, Fernádez-González P, et al. Balance and motor skills differences between children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder and neurotypically developing. Autism Res, 2024, 17(8): 1545-1555.
3. Lidstone DE, Singhala M, Wang LJ, et al. HaptiKart: an engaging videogame reveals elevated proprioceptive bias in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. PLOS Digit Health, 2025, 4(6): e0000879.
4. Pettinato F, Valle MS, Cioni M, et al. Dynamical complexity of postural control system in autism spectrum disorder: a feasibility study of linear and non-linear measures in posturographic analysis of upright posture. J Neuroeng Rehabil, 2024, 21(1): 225.
5. Qu H, Wang J, Shirley DJ, et al. Atypical postural control variability and coordination persist into middle and older adulthood in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res, 2025, 18(4): 752-764.
6. Rinehart NJ, Tonge BJ, Bradshaw JL, et al. Gait function in high-functioning autism and Asperger’s disorder: evidence for basal-ganglia and cerebellar involvement?. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2006, 15(5): 256-264.
7. Martel M, Finos L, Bahmad S, et al. Motor deficits in autism differ from that of developmental coordination disorder. Autism, 2024, 28(2): 415-432.
8. Buyuktaskin D, Iseri E, Guney E, et al. Somatosensory temporal discrimination in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res, 2021, 14(4): 656-667.
9. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2013.
10. Winter DA. Human balance and posture control during standing and walking. Gait Posture, 1995, 3(4): 193-214.
11. Prieto TE, Myklebust JB, Hoffmann RG, et al. Measures of postural steadiness: differences between healthy young and elderly adults. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 1996, 43(9): 956-966.
12. Mancini M, Horak FB. The relevance of clinical balance assessment tools to differentiate balance deficits. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med, 2010, 46(2): 239-248.
13. Duarte M, Freitas SM. Revision of posturography based on force plate for balance evaluation. Rev Bras Fisioter, 2010, 14(3): 183-192.
14. Raymakers JA, Samson MM, Verhaar HJ. The assessment of body sway and the choice of the stability parameter(s). Gait Posture, 2005, 21(1): 48-58.
15. Sadeghi H, Allard P, Prince F, et al. Symmetry and limb dominance in able-bodied gait: a review. Gait Posture, 2000, 12(1): 34-45.
16. Balasubramanian CK, Bowden MG, Neptune RR, et al. Relationship between step length asymmetry and walking performance in subjects with chronic hemiparesis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2007, 88(1): 43-49.
17. Hof AL. The ‘extrapolated center of mass’ concept suggests a simple control of balance in walking. Hum Mov Sci, 2008, 27(1): 112-125.
18. Wang Z, Magnon GC, White SP, et al. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder show abnormalities during initial and subsequent phases of precision gripping. J Neurophysiol, 2015, 113(7): 1989-2001.

West China Medical Journal

Research on static standing and walking of autism spectrum disorder children under different sensory information input

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