IMPACT OF GROSS MOTOR PERFORMANCE ON BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

Background: Motor impairment is common in children with autism that can be manifested as a gross and fine motor coordination deficit, motor stereotype, gait disorder, postural and balance disorder or dyspraxia. Children with autism are at risk for decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Aim: to assess gross motor skill performance and bone mineral density in children with autism and to determine the difference between children with autism and age-matched typically developing children (TDC) in gross motor performance and BMD. Methods: Thirty children with autism and thirty typically developing children, their age ranged from 7-10 years, assessed by TGMD-2 for evaluating gross motor skills and bydual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan for assessing bone mineral density of whole body, spine and neck of femur. Results: There was a significant decrease in BMD and Z score of the whole body, spine and left femur in children with autism compared with that of TDC (p < 0.05). Also, there was a significant decrease in raw and standard scores of locomotor and object control and in sum of standard scores and gross motor quotient of children with autism compared with that of TDC (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between gross motor skills and BMD. Conclusion: it could be concluded that children with autism present deficits in gross motor performance in the aspects assessed (locomotor and object control abilities). Also, they had lower BMD Z-scores at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and whole body than TDC.

Automated summary

Children with autism exhibit deficits in gross motor performance and have lower bone mineral density compared to typically developing children.