Enhanced Postural Control Through Textured Insoles in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Sensorimotor Integration Perspective

This study investigated the effects of textured insoles on postural control in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), examining how enhanced somatosensory feedback influences sensorimotor integration under varying sensory conditions. Twenty-one adults with ASD ( M age = 28.4 ± 4.2 years) participated in a within-subjects design study with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design (surface: firm/foam, vision: eyes open/closed, and insole: with/without). Postural control was assessed using the Gaitview AFA-50 pressure platform system. Center of pressure parameters, including envelope area, root mean square, and total path length were analyzed to evaluate spatial and temporal aspects of postural control performance. The results showed that textured insoles significantly reduced postural sway parameters, indicating improved postural control, most significantly in conditions where sensorimotor integration was challenging (eyes closed on foam surface). Envelope area was reduced by 45.2% ( p < .01), root mean square by 38.2% ( p < .001), and total path length by 31.1% ( p < .001), indicating improved postural control. Astrong interaction between surface type and insole condition was found particularly for root mean square ( = .685, p < .001), suggesting that the effects of somatosensory enhancement are greater when proprioceptive information is limited. Our results suggest that textured insoles reduce postural sway in adults with ASD, indicating improved postural control by enhancing plantar somatosensory feedback. This sensory augmentation may compensate for sensory integration difficulties commonly observed in ASD by strengthening one sensory channel, potentially facilitating more effective multisensory integration for postural control.