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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  • Writer: Zion Physical Therapy
    Zion Physical Therapy
  • Mar 31, 2022
  • 1 min read

Updated: Jun 29, 2023

*WHAT: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that involves developmental delays, as well as social, communication, and behavior impairments. It’s a spectrum because the signs, which can begin as early as childhood, can range from mild to severe.


autism spectrum disorder chart

*CAUSE: All aren’t known but the following may increase the likelihood of someone developing ASD: environmental, genetic, and biological factors.


*SYMPTOMS: Research shows that individuals with ASD may have impaired motor skills including limited coordination and postural control. They can have more difficulty with planning and executing certain motor skills and learning through imitation. Two core signs include challenge in social communication and interaction as well as restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior.

*TREATMENT: The good news is that research shows that PT can help those with ASD to improve development and skills. There is no “standard” treatment that exists for kids with ASD as treatment is based on each individual child’s impairments and functional limitations. Researchers found that combining PT with fun activities has great benefits. Fun activities like dancing to music and yoga, along with specific PT exercises prescribed by a skilled pediatric PT can help with physical, social, and cognitive abilities.


Get Moving With Some Yoga Poses:


kid's yoga poses graphic

Turn On Some Favorite Tunes And Have A Dance Party:


graphic of kids dancing

Interested in learning more about autism spectrum disorder? The Zion PT team of physical therapists are here to help and can set you up with an evaluation. Call (212) 353-8693, or email schedule@zionpt.com and check out this website for more info:





11 Comments

Elon Musk
Elon Musk
Oct 23

I really appreciate the holistic approach you've taken here, connecting physical activities like yoga and dance to ASD support. It's so important to look at the whole person, not just one aspect of their development. This focus on early, whole-body support is fantastic. It also brings to light how this journey of understanding often continues well into adulthood, especially for those who didn't have these resources when they were young. This often leads many adults to reflect on their own lives, connecting their own experiences with motor coordination or social interactions to what they're learning. For anyone on that path of self-discovery, a structured autism quiz for adults can be an incredibly insightful starting point for gaining that clarity.

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