HeartSpace Blog

A thoughtful commentary on issues in Physical Therapy for children, adolescents and adults experiencing challenges with movement


Movement research – ASD #4

This 2020 study by Mostert-Kerchoffs has some fascinating information:

Movement research – ASD #3

In 2020, Bojanek et al published a study addressing postural control in standing and the initiation of stepping in autistic children (age 6-19 years) The results suggested the participants were less stable in standing and there was reduced lateral sway (frontal plane) and greater weight shift velocity when stepping. (I interpret the latter observations as

Movement research – ASD #2

Next up is a 2009 article by Esposito et al titled ” An exploration of symmetry in early autism spectrum disorders: Analysis of lying”. Again, the emphasis is on the movement analysis with young children looking at the symmetry of movement in the first 5 months of life in supine in autistic children, those with

Movement Research – ASD

One of the earliest articles I can find looking at this topic is “Movement analysis in infancy may be useful for early diagnosis of autism” by Teitelbaum et al 1998. It’s a fascinating discussion of analysis of home videos of 17 children. While the analysis showed that movement differences varied from child to child there

Gravity – It’s Complicated

I’ve examined anti-gravity extension and anti-gravity flexion for years as part of my assessment. Specific methods for testing both of these components are included in both the Observations Based on Sensory Integration Theory as well as the new Structured Observations of Sensory Integration – Motor (SOSI-M). Most often clinicians focus on the amount of time