Children with ASD may achieve early gross motor milestones such as sitting,crawling and independent walking within the expected time frames, but the quality of their movements may be immature or stereotypical when compared with their peers. As a result, children with ASD may struggle to master higher level motor skills such as ball skills, skipping, riding a bike, balancing and hopping.  These skills impact the child’s overall participation in peer and community activities, which subsequently will affect their overall development.

 Physiotherapist's Role:




Some signs a child with ASD might benefit from the help of a physiotherapist:
  • Delayed achievement of gross motor milestones
  • Difficulty with:
    • Throwing, catching, kicking or dribbling a ball
    • Jumping, hopping or skipping
    • Playing on a playground
    • Playing games or sports and keeping up with their peers
    • Participating in community recreational or sporting programs
    • Learning new physical skills
    • Sitting in a chair properly, or for very long without fidgeting
    • Poor posture
    • Clumsiness or frequent falls
  • Toe walking
A number of motor, sensory and musculo skeletal issues may be underlying the motor difficulties experienced by a child with ASD:
  • Low muscle tone – which means that they require more strength and energy to move, and also alters the sensory feedback of a child. 
  • Motor planning difficulties – this affects the child’s ability to optimally time, sequence and execute a movement. This is often seen as clumsiness, frequent falls, poor balance, or poor coordination. 
  • Poor posture – often develops as a result of the low muscle tone and poor core strength.
  • Poor core muscle strength:
  • Tight muscles and joints – these develop as a result of the poor motor strategies and posture
  • Delayed achievement of, poor or inefficient balance reactions
A physiotherapist experienced in pediatrics will assess the child’s overall motor functioning, identify the underlying difficulties, and provide an intervention program to  improve these difficulties and subsequently the child’s overall functioning.  Strategies that may be used as part of a physiotherapy intervention plan include:
  • Specific exercises or activities for muscle strength, posture, endurance, motor planning and balance reactions
  • Sensory feedback strategies to improve a child’s awareness of their body posture and movements
  • Recommendations for taping, orthotics, and/or other bracing or positioning strategies and equipment to enhance the child’s body alignment, posture and body awareness during functional or physical activities
  • Recommendations and support to participate in community based physical activity programs that will support their physical skills and endurance
CORE MUSCLE STRENGTHENING FOR AUTISTIC KIDS:



Physiotherapy can be a key ingredient in the treatment of motor difficulties for children with ASD.  If you are concerned about your child’s development or their motor skills, or have a child you are working with who you think might benefit from physiotherapy intervention.