Assessment Of Spinal Posture, Balance And Ankle Muscle Shortness İn Children With Autism

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Autism

• Registration Number: NCT06995716
• Lead Sponsor: Abant Izzet Baysal University

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate spinal posture, mobility, balance and ankle muscle shortness in children with autism.

The study will feature two groups,

* First group will consist of children with autism

* Second group will consist of typically developing children

Childhood autism assessment scale will be completed with the families of the children included in the study. The tiptoe walking status of the children participating in the study will be observed and classified according to the tiptoe walking classification. Children's balance skills will be evaluated with pediatric berg balance test and timed get up and walk test, ankle muscle shortness will be evaluated with Gastro-Soleus shortness measurements, spinal posture and mobility will be evaluated with spinal mouse.

The evaluation results of both groups will be compared.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* Spinal mobility is decreased in children with autism compared to typically developing children.

* Thoracic kyphosis is greater in children with autism compared to typically developing children.

* Balance skills are poorer in children with autism compared to typically developing children.

* The severity of tiptoe walking increases as gastro-soleus muscle shortness increases.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Study First Submitted: 2025-05-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-21
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-21
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-29
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-29
• Study Start: 2025-05-30
• Primary Completion: 2025-07-25
• Study Completion: 2025-10-25

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 36

Inclusion Criteria

• Being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the Special Needs Report for Children (ÇÖZGER)
• GMFCS level I or II
• Between the ages of 6-18
• IQ score of 50 or more as determined in the Special Needs Report for Children (ÇÖZGER)
• Volunteering to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Having a rigid contracture of the columna vertebralis
• Having undergone scoliosis surgery
• Having a rigid contracture in passive knee extension and ankle range of motion
• History of surgery or botox affecting ankle joint range of motion in the last 6 months

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Spinal posture and mobility	10 minutes	Spinal Mouse : Spinal Mouse is a tool used for noninvasive external evaluation that measures spinal angles and shape in frontal and sagittal planes. It is used to measure spinal intersegmental angles and spinal range of motion. The device is moved over the columna vertebralis on the skin surface following the spinous processes from C7 to S3. It provides information about inclination, thorax, lumbar and sacrum/hip angles. Stores data and provides result output via computer program; Both frontal and sagital assement were made while standing upright; For the sagital assement there were 3 different evaluation positions; * Standing still; * Body flexion; * Body extension; For the frontal assement there were 3 different evaluation positions; * Standing still; * Body left lateral flexion; * Body right lateral flexion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Childhood Autism Rating Scale	10 minutes	It is a scale consisting of 15 items used to assess the severity of autism, with each item scored between 1 and 4. A score of 1 represents that the child's behavior for that item is normal for his/her age, while a score of 4 represents that it is extremely abnormal. The minimum score is 15 and the maximum score is 60. The results are evaluated as "no autism" between 15-29 points, "mild-moderate autism" between 30-36 points, and extreme autism between 37-60 points.; Families of the children were asked to fill out the froms.
Pediatric Berg Balance Scale	10 minutes	It is a scale used to assess the balance of 14 functional tasks. Each item is scored between 0 and 4. A higher score represents better balance. The maximum possible score is 56.; Children were asked to complete the funcional tasks and were scored accordingly to their performance.
Timed Up and Go Test	5 minutes	Children were asked to sit upright on a chair with a straight back. At the start command, the child stood up, walked 3 meters, turned around and sat back on the chair. The time taken to perform the movement was recorded in seconds and performance was interpreted accordingly
M.Gastrocnemius - M.Gastrosoleus Shortness Measurement	5 minutes	Passive foot dorsiflexion measurement with a manual goniometer was performed at 0 degrees knee flexion for Gastrocnemius muscle and 90 degrees knee flexion for Soleus muscle. Muscle shortness was expressed in degrees. Ankle neutral position was recorded as 0 degrees, dorsiflexion angles as positive and plantar flexion angles as negative.
Classification of Tiptoe Walking	5 minutes	Tiptoe walking was assessed and classified by observation during 10-meter walk-run. Level 1 indicates that there is tiptoe behavior during running, walking and standing; Level 2 indicates that there is tiptoe behavior during running and walking; Level 3 indicates that there is tiptoe behavior only during running; if no tiptoe walking is observed, it was indicated as "no tiptoe walking".

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Kdz. Ereğli Gökkuşağı Özel Eğitim ve Rehabilitasyon Merkezi; 🇹🇷 Ereğli, Zonguldak, Turkey

Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University; 🇹🇷 Bolu, Turkey

Düzce Gökkuşağı Özel Eğitim ve Rehabilitasyon Merkezi; 🇹🇷 Düzce, Turkey