Postural Sway in ADHD & Autism
I wrote this after noticing a sudden uptick in conversation about Postural Sway in ADHD and Autistic people, often referred to as the “ADHD walk”—but what does it actually mean, and why is it important to understand?
For one thing, because issues with postural instability and proprioception can have an impact on a person’s quality of life. In some cases, it can interfere with participation in activities and can cause physical pain.
In other cases, it’s more of an inconvenience but still can lead to more frequent injuries and difficulty with coordination.
On a personal note
I’ve been an athlete since I could walk and skate, but I’m getting older (38 is “old” in athlete years). In my 20s and into my early 30s, I was physically active every day and played high-level competitive soccer and hockey. I was also going to physiotherapy regularly due to ongoing sports injuries.
I remember one appointment my physiotherapist (PT) was showing me a new balance and core-strengthening exercise. You place a few pieces of paper (sticky notes or any flat object, really) on the floor in front of you, but within reach.
While standing on one foot, you reach down in a slow, controlled movement to touch one piece of paper. Then, while continuing to balance on one foot, you stand up straight, then bend down to touch another. You touch each piece of paper, then switch to balancing on the other foot and repeat.
Given that I was strong and in good shape at the time, my PT did not expect me to have any trouble with this exercise.
Unfortunately, she thought wrong.
I didn’t fall over, but I was wobbly, and found the exercise much more difficult than my PT – or I – had expected. I can’t say for certain why this was, but I was diagnosed Autistic and ADHD a few years later. In hindsight, it’s not all that surprising after all, and I’ll explain why.
Postural Sway
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