Stance Phases Characteristics of Walking in Children with Autism

Autism spectrum disorder is known as one of the most prevalent psychological disorders in children, which ‎affects biomechanics‏ ‏of walking‏ ‏skills. The present study was conducted to compare the characteristics of the ‎stance phases of walking in autistic children to their healthy peers. Forty children 7-12 years entered into two ‎groups of children with autism and healthy. Timing of sub-phases, foot progression angle and total time of the ‎stance phases was measured with foot scan device in walk way. The results indicated that in autistic children ‎versus control group had more in forefoot contact and push-off phases, total time of the stance and foot ‎progression angle and had lesser in the initial contact and foot flattening phases (P≤0/05). These findings ‎suggested that autistic children had different strategies for body mass support at different stance phases.‎