you've probably heard of autistics 'toe stepping' but did you know there are other ways we're more inclined to move ? we're also more likely to have slightly different anatomy

common autistic physiological traits - a thread

the first one that usually presents itself *is* toe stepping. this is when we walk with most, or all, of our weight on our toes and our heel isn't placed on the ground - it's more common in children but is sometimes found in adults & is an early sign of autism

leg length discrepancy - this can cause us to lean on one leg & not distribute our weight evenly; one leg is longer than the other & often means we don't stand straight. it can also cause our ankle/knee/hip joints to lock or click & we may sometimes appear to walk with a limp

collapsed foot structure - basically the arches of our feet are 'fallen' so we seem to have flat feet, which affects balance and i think can cause pain when we walk so we tire sooner than neurotypicals. this can also lead to having somewhat 'deformed' or unusual toes

kyphosis - autistics are more likely to have curved spines, collapsed chests and dropped shoulders. i developed this immediately after quitting ballet when i was 7, and may be caused by reduced strength or decreased biomechanical stability. we look like we slouch a lot more.

scoliosis - deformity/curvature of the spine. as we grow our spine may twist or bend & affect our ability to maintain a straight alignment. some symptoms include having one side of the hips/ribs/collarbone show more than the other or shoulders/hips being different heights & pain

unusual sitting postures - because of sensory processing differences, we often need more input from our bodies about how we relate to space, so we may be a lot more tactile with ourselves e.g. sitting cross legged, sitting on our feet/hands, pulling our knees to our chest

this may give off the effect of more closed body language, making us look less approachable (a LOT of autistics are told that they appear intimidating and i think this might be why, especially when combined with a flat affect)

everything i read about ASD gives me another reason i'm convinced that i'm autistic. i relate to all but one of the traits listed (i never walked on my toes). my posture is odd, i sit weirdly, my legs are different legs - which i found out age 9 at an appointment for my flat feet

"my legs are different legs" lmao well done kaz u dyslexic fuck. my legs are different lengths.

yes !! i was going to mention EDS but i didn't want to spread any misinformation because i really don't know too much about it (yet) https://twitter.com/jmrz/status/1384475238658834433?s=19