Fundamental movement skills in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review

Background: Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are basic movement skills (i.e. balance, object control, and locomotor skills) that form the foundation for more advanced movement patterns. These skills are a crucial but often an overlooked part of the development process, especially in populations with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In view of this, the present review was undertaken with the purpose of determining the extent of FMS impairments in children with ASD compared to typically developing children and those with other developmental disorders. Method: A total of 24 studies that measured FMS in children with ASD using product- and process-oriented standardized movement assessment batteries were included in the review. Results: The results showed that impairments in FMS are highly prevalent across the ASD spectrum and that children with ASD exhibited greater impairments in FMS competencies especially object control and locomotor skills compared to typically developing children and those with other developmental disorders. Moreover, these impairments in FMS appear to emerge early in life and persist throughout late childhood years in the majority of children with ASD. Conclusion: These findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting that FMS has the potential to be an early motor marker in children with ASD, and that practitioners should therefore be encouraged to consider movement skill evaluations as a routine investigation for children with ASD.