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: * Is spinal mobility decreased in children with autism compared to typically developing children? * Is Thoracic kyphosis greater in children with autism compared to typically developing children? * Are Balance skills poorer in children with autism compared to typically developing children? * Does the severity of tiptoe walking increase as gastro-soleus muscle shortness increases?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
36
Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University
Bolu, Bolu, Turkey (Türkiye)
Düzce Gökkuşağı Özel Eğitim ve Rehabilitasyon Merkezi
Düzce, Düzce, Turkey (Türkiye)
Kdz. Ereğli Gökkuşağı Özel Eğitim ve Rehabilitasyon Merkezi
Ereğli, Zonguldak Province, Turkey (Türkiye)
Spinal posture and mobility
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 sagittal assesment were made while standing upright For the sagittal assesment there were 3 different evaluation positions * Standing still * Body flexion * Body extension For the frontal assesment there were 3 different evaluation positions * Standing still * Body left lateral flexion * Body right lateral flexion
Time frame: 6 Months
Childhood Autism Rating Scale
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 forms.
Time frame: 6 Months
Pediatric Berg Balance Scale
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 functional tasks and were scored accordingly to their performance.
Time frame: 6 Months
Timed Up and Go Test
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
Time frame: 6 Months
M.Gastrocnemius - M.Gastrosoleus Shortness Measurement
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.
Time frame: 6 Months
Classification of Tiptoe Walking
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".
Time frame: 6 Months
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