Modulation of center-of-pressure signal in children on the autism spectrum: A case-control study

• Published in: Gait & posture 2023-06, Vol.103, p.67-72
• Main Authors: Stania, Magdalena, Emich-Widera, Ewa, Kazek, Beata, Kamieniarz, Anna, Swatowska-Wenglarczyk, Martyna, Juras, Grzegorz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder; Case-Control Studies; Child; Gravitation; Humans; Postural Balance
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.04.018

Proper postural and motor control plays a fundamental role in the child’s ontogenetic development. So far, the postural control in children on the autism spectrum has mainly been assessed with standard posturographic measurements of center of pressure (COP) displacements. What are the differences in postural control between autistic and typically developing children? The study group comprised 16 autistic children aged 6–10 years, identified by a psychiatrist. The control group consisted of 16 typically developing children aged 6–10 years with no posture deformities, no pervasive developmental disorder and no history of postural control or movement deficits. The data were collected during quiet standing with eyes open using a force plate. To gain a better insight into the postural control processes, the rambling-trembling and sample entropy analyses were used in COP data processing. Compared to typically developing children, those with autism spectrum had significantly higher values of COP and rambling trajectory parameters in the antero-posterior direction during quiet standing. The variables of the trembling trajectory did not differ significantly between the groups. The autistic children had significantly lower values of sample entropy in the antero-posterior direction compared to typically developing children. More advanced measures of COP displacements including the rambling-trembling method and sample entropy revealed differences in postural control between autistic and typically developing children. These methods may therefore contribute to functional assessment of postural control deficits in children on the autism spectrum. •Postural control should be assessed in autistic children.•Autistic children might have postural control deficits.•More advanced measures of COP displacements can be used to assess postural control.