Bibliometric analysis of the literature on postural balance in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

to identify the state-of-the-art research on postural balance in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in both Brazilian and international literature.

Methods:

a bibliometric review, developed through bibliographical search in databases using the following descriptors: "postural balance" OR "vestibular diseases" OR "postural equilibrium" AND "autism". The eligibility criteria for sample selection were articles published in Brazilian and international journals, in either English or Portuguese. There was no restriction regarding the year of publication. The selection was based on reading the title, abstract, and lastly the full text of the articles potentially relevant for this review.

Results:

62 articles were found based on the eligibility criteria. The number of publications related to the study’s theme peaked in 2015 and 2016, the first publication being from 1974. There was a predominance of studies published in the USA (37%), in English, with a quantitative, cross-sectional approach. Most of the authors compared the performance in body balance tasks of children with ASD with that of children with typical development.

Conclusion:

it was observed that body balance and postural control in children with ASD are growing trends in scientific publications.

Keywords:
Autism; Postural Balance; Bibliometrics; Child; Review