Toe Walking and Severe Autism Spectrum Disorder

Toe Walking and Severe Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Research published research evaluating toe walking and severe Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Two studies were carried out.  In study number one, 69 individuals with ASD and intellectual disability (average age 14 years old) were observed in the clinic and interviews took place with the main caregivers.

The results indicated the following for toe walking and severe Autism Spectrum Disorder:

• toe walking was present in 32% of the subjects.
• toe walking occurred when standing, walking and running (45.5%), when walking and running (18.4%), or only when running (36.4%).
• toe walking subjects were more frequently nonverbal
• there was no significant difference in ASD severity between toe walking and non-toe walking subjects.

The second study was to determine if the floor surface had an effect on toe walking.  For this study, 14 individuals with ASD participated (7 toe walkers and 7 non-toe walkers).  The results indicated that a soft floor surface (foam mats) made a substantial difference in reducing the toe walking during static and/or dynamic tasks.

The researchers concluded that further evaluation is needed to clarify the potential pathophysiological implications of this toe walking.

Reference:  Valagussa, G., Trentin, L., Balatti, V., & Grossi, E. (2017). Assessment of presentation patterns, clinical severity, and sensorial mechanism of tip‐toe behavior in severe ASD subjects with intellectual disability: A cohort observational study. Autism Research.

Read more about toe walking:

1.  Motor Skills, Sensory Processing, and Toe Walking
2.  Prevalence of Toe Walking
3.  Idiopathic Toe Walking and Left Handedness
4.  Toe Walking and Autism
5.  Idiopathic Toe Walking and Botox

Taming Idiopathic Toe Walking: A Treatment Guide for Parents and Therapists is a great electronic or print book that provides a non-invasive, efficient and effective sensory treatment strategy for children and adolescents that display atypical toe walking.

Written by renowned Occupational Therapist, Ileana S. McCaigue, OTR/L, ‘Taming Idiopathic Toe Walking: A Treatment Guide for Parents and Therapists’ serves as a definitive manual for children and adolescents that display atypical toe walking behaviors. Inspired by the overcoming of toe walking by numerous children during her years of practice,  McCaigue’s professional expertise and personal experiences are fused into a powerful resource.  FIND OUT MORE.

 

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Less Movement = Harder to Read for Boys

The Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport published research on the association of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) with reading and arithmetic skills in 89 boys and 69 girls aged 6–8 years.  MVPA and ST were assessed by monitoring heart rate, using a movement sensor and measuring body fat percentage.  Reading fluency, reading comprehension, and arithmetic skills were evaluated using standardized tests in Grades 1–3.  Data analysis revealed the following:

• for boys, MVPA was directly and ST inversely associated with reading fluency in Grades 1–3 and arithmetic skills in Grade 1.
• for boys. higher levels of MVPA were also related to better reading comprehension in Grade 1.
• for boys, a combination of lower levels of MVPA and higher levels of ST had consistently poorer reading fluency and reading comprehension across Grades 1–3.
•  for girls, ST was directly associated with arithmetic skills in Grade 2. However, this relationship of ST with arithmetic skills was no longer significant after adjustment for body fat percentage.

The researchers concluded that lower levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity, higher levels of sedentary time, and particularly the combination of the two, were related to poorer reading skills in boys.

Reference:  Haapala, Eero A., et al. “Physical activity and sedentary time in relation to academic achievement in children.” Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (2016). DOI: http://ift.tt/2hzB16W

Mini Movement Breaks  This download is a collection of 60+ quick sensory motor activity cards. The mini movement breaks are quick and require no equipment. The movement breaks can be done indoors. Most of the movement breaks can be done with one child or a group of children. It does not get any easier than this to encourage sensory motor activities in the classroom or home.  Find out more information.

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