Motor difficulties in autism spectrum disorder: linking symptom severity and postural stability.
One-leg standing balance is measurably worse in average-IQ clients with autism—consider adding static balance tasks to motor assessments.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Miltenberger et al. (2013) asked adults with autism to stand still on a force plate. They tried two poses: feet together and one-leg balance.
The team also rated each person's autism traits. They wanted to see if tougher symptoms went hand-in-hand with shakier balance.
What they found
On one leg, the autism group wobbled more than typical adults. With both feet down, the two groups looked the same.
The worse the autism traits, the shakier the one-leg stance. Symptom severity did not link to the easier two-leg task.
How this fits with other research
Boxum et al. (2018) later tested kids with autism on a foam pad. They also saw extra sway and found lower IQ predicted more wobble. The 2013 adult study and the 2018 child study line up: balance is fragile in autism once the task gets hard.
Lim et al. (2020) looked at quiet standing in autistic children and saw no group difference at all. This seems like a clash, but age explains it. Kids in the 2020 paper had simple eyes-open stance; adults in the 2013 paper faced the harder one-leg demand. Balance gaps may show up only when the task stresses the system.
Lim et al. (2019) added moving walls and blinking lights with adults. Autistic adults swayed more and had to think harder to stay upright. Together these papers trace a pattern: motor quiet looks fine in kids, yet subtle control problems linger and reappear in adulthood once balance gets tricky.
Why it matters
If you work with teens or adults with autism, add a quick one-leg stand to your intake. A visible wobble flags motor systems that may tire fast during sports, job tasks, or ADLs. Build in short balance breaks, choose seated options, or allow a wall touch. Spotting the issue early keeps clients safe and confident.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Postural stability is a fundamental aspect of motor ability that allows individuals to sustain and maintain the desired physical position of one's body. The present study examined postural stability in average-IQ adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Twenty-six individuals with ASD and 26 age-and-IQ-matched individuals with typical development stood on one leg or two legs with eyes opened or closed on a Wii balance board. Results indicated significant group differences in postural stability during one-legged standing, but there were no significant group differences during two-legged standing. This suggests that static balance during more complex standing postures is impaired in average-IQ individuals with ASD. Further, current ASD symptoms were related to postural stability during two-legged standing in individuals with ASD. Future directions and clinical implications are discussed.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2013 · doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1702-x