LE3 .A278 2013

2013

Seaman, Roxanne

Acadia University

Bachelor of Kinesiology

Honours

Kinesiology

Kinesiology

Toe walking is a toe-to-toe movement pattern that for a brief period of time, is a typical phase of learning how to walk in a mature heel-to-toe pattern. However, if this toe-to-toe walking pattern persists after a child is two years of age it is considered atypical. Children with autism show a high prevalence of toe-walking. This atypical gait pattern is thought, in children with autism, to be the result of sensory processing abnormalities or behavioural habituation. Although no structural abnormalities have been identified as the root cause of this disorder, physical, rather than behavioural, treatment approaches are routinely used even though they have high failure rates. This pilot project examines the effectiveness of behavioural interventions as a means to correct idiopathic toe-walking in children with autism through the newly designed Footprints Program©, as implemented with a seven year old female with autism. It examines parent feelings and perceptions towards toe-walking and toe-walking interventions as well as the Footprints Program’s viability for implementation by non-professionals at home and at school. The program was implemented with the participant fifteen minutes per day, five days a week over the course of ten months. The participant gained the ability to walk with a correct gait pattern during daily sessions and a slight increase in heel-to-toe walking was observed outside of the treatment sessions showing potential for the use of behavioural interventions to correct idiopathic toe-walking in children with autism.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1019