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Goal Directed Locomotion and Balance Control in Autistic Children

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Abstract

This article focuses on postural anticipation and multi-joint coordination during locomotion in healthy and autistic children. Three questions were addressed: (1) Are gait parameters modified in autistic children? (2) Is equilibrium control affected in autistic children? (3) Is locomotion adjusted to the experimenter-imposed goal? Six healthy children and nine autistic children were instructed to walk to a location (a child-sized playhouse) inside the psychomotor room of the pedopsychiatric centre located approximately 5 m in front of them. A kinematic analysis of gait (ELITE system) indicates that, rather than gait parameters or balance control, the main components affected in autistic children during locomotion are the goal of the action, the orientation towards this goal and the definition of the trajectory due probably to an impairment of movement planning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Sport et Culture EA2931, Université Paris-X Nanterre, 200 av. de la République, 92001, Nanterre, France

    S. Vernazza-Martin & A. Lepellec-Muller

  2. Lodyc UMR 7617, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Tour 15, Boîte 100, 4 place Jussieu, 75252, Cedex 05, Paris, France

    N. Martin

  3. Service de Pédopsychiatrie, Centre Médico-Psychologique de l’enfant et de sa famille, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, 270 bd Ste Marguerite, 13009, Marseille, France

    A. Vernazza & M. Rufo

  4. Laboratoire Parole et Langage, Université de Provence-CNRS, 29, avenue Robert Schuman, 13621, Aix-en-Provence, France

    J. Massion

  5. Laboratoire Développement et Pathologie du Mouvement, CNRS, 31, chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402, Marseille Cedex 20, France

    C. Assaiante

  6. S.Vernazza-Martin, 7 bis avenue Auber, 78360, Montesson, France

    S. Vernazza-Martin

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  1. S. Vernazza-Martin
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  2. N. Martin
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  3. A. Vernazza
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  7. C. Assaiante
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Correspondence to S. Vernazza-Martin.

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Vernazza-Martin, S., Martin, N., Vernazza, A. et al. Goal Directed Locomotion and Balance Control in Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord 35, 91–102 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-004-1037-3

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