Balance differences in autistic young people involved several areas of control
Compared with typically developing peers, autistic children and young people showed poorer balance in several areas. The review describes group differences, without establishing their causes, individual severity or an effective intervention.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found poorer balance control in autistic children and young people than in typically developing peers. Reported difficulties involved using sensory information for balance, sensing upright orientation and preparing posture before movement. These group-level findings identify areas for further study, but do not establish how severe the differences are for an individual or what causes them.
The abstract provides no effect sizes, participant totals or exact age ranges. Only six studies could be pooled, and the authors call for research following participants over time to better understand balance across its different domains.
Balance was more than a single score
Sensory orientation concerns using sensory information to orient the body. Verticality concerns upright orientation. Anticipatory postural adjustments are preparations in posture before movement. The review reported difficulties across these areas rather than describing balance as a single undifferentiated ability.
A comparison cannot explain development
The results summarize differences between groups of young people. They do not show how an individual's balance changes with age or whether a particular program improves it. The authors specifically identify studies tracking changes over time as a research need.
The original publication
Balance Control in Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Xu W, Li N, Qi J
Alpha Psychiatry · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40630887
- Record checked
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