Relationships Between Musculoskeletal Fitness Measurements And Balance Among Children With And Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

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PURPOSE: Balance is a key component of fitness to control the body’s position and coordinate movements. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are reported to have deficits in balance. To inform and optimise the design of balance training programs, it is important to know if a relationship exists between musculoskeletal fitness components and balance, as these may serve as targets for interventions. METHODS: Ninety-two children with ASD (7.85 years ±2.09) and 152 neurotypically developing (ND) children (8.58 years ±2.14) completed a modified Eurofit test, including a 20 m sprint, standing broad jump, sit-and-reach flexibility, handgrip strength and stork balance test. Data were analyzed using a Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis to assess the relationship and strength between measures of musculoskeletal fitness and balance. Statistical significance was set at an alpha level of p < .05, and Hopkins’ thresholds were used with values > .5 representative of a large correlation (Hopkins, 2000). RESULTS: There was a weak correlation between BMI and balance (r = .014, p > .05 ASD, r = -.008, p > .05 ND). Relationships between balance and other measures of physical fitness were weak to moderate for both ND and ASD children: sit-and-reach flexibility (r = .173, p > .05 ASD, r = .235, p < .01 ND), standing broad jump (r = .444, p < .01 ASD, r = .496, p < .01 ND), sprint speed (r = -.318, p < .01 ASD, r = -.509, p < .01 ND), and handgrip strength (r = .211, p > .05 ASD, r = .468, p < .01 ND). Multiple regression analysis indicated that approximately 20% of the variance in balance could be explained by standing broad jump in the ASD group, while sit and reach flexibility and handgrip strength explained approximately 36% of the variance in balance in the ND group. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight balance as a relatively independent fitness component, given the small to moderate correlations with various measures of musculoskeletal fitness among children with and without ASD. Thus, interventions seeking to improve balance in children with ASD should include balance training activities to target this component of fitness.