odd posture, does this sound familair to anyone???

[genieinabottle]

DS (4.10; asd) has had on and off numerous somewhat a bit unusual body postures.
Today, while we were out at Paultons'park, he adopted something quite new.

A bit hard to describe, but wherever he went to, as we walked around the park he had his left hand on his hip. He was holding it in a slightly bent inwards way; so hard to explain but a bit like a gay person would iyswim?
He was constantly doing this, and at times was also walking around with his head slightly cocked to the side.
When we were just standing he was always fiddling with his belt, flicking it and wrapping it round his finger.

I suppose this was due to him feeling a bit anxious because it was a big new exciting place with lots of people about.

Ime it is very common for people with ASD to have odd body postures, all sorts of versions of it. I've seen it lots of times but I don't know why it is. I suppose partly due to not copying how other people move and not caring but maybe something sensory, repetitive, comforting in anxious surroundings or something else???

Thanks for reply.
Yes most of the time, DS takes on an odd body posture, or odd gestures when we are out somewhere he doesn't know and is feeling anxious.
He does also it when something is happening and he hasn't understood, like at nursery teacher gives an instruction and DS just stands there in an odd position. ...etc
I remember last winter, when it snowed loads and we were insisting DS wears his gloves, he did but the first few times he was walking about with his hands outstreched in front of him and his fingers splayed out. ...the zombie walk! lol

At home unless he is stimming, it is less common for him to do it because he is usually more relaxed and confortable.

Yes, dd1 does the hand on hip thin too. Dd1 often has a stiff posture where as her sister if very loose, when she runs her arms and legs seem to flap around.

When i took dd2 to get her feet checked out (they turn inwards) i was told it was due to her posture and the way she runs. Apparently a lot of ASD children develop/create their own posture and movements.

With my Dd3 it's the way she sits that concerns me, she has one leg over the other and leans forward so leg is almost under her arm.
She also runs in a very flappy way, arms and legs all over, she is always falling over.It is becoming more noticable as she gets older and she cannot keep up with her friends anymore.

Thanks for replies.

When DS runs he does look a bit stiff and doesn't move his arms up and down, instead they float and sometimes flap around near his sides.
His legs are a bit all over the place, and he frequently trips up.
Whenever he moves fast even just sitting on a chair quickly he ends up taking a tumble or hurting himself.
Although when he was about 2.5 - 3 y old, it was much worse, simple walking would see him on the floor many times.

ASD paed at Camhs said he was gangly. so comm.paed is supposed to refer him to OT ... when we get our next appointment 'someday'.

Apart from "odd posture" it is common to have an overlap, to some extent, with dyspraxia. My sister, who has AS, was noticeably poorly physically co-ordinated and very bad at sport, unlike me and my other sister.

Hmmm.... My son (9) has autism. He has always had a peculiar gait whenever he is out of his comfort zone. He sort of shuffles from foot to foot wringing his hands. He Is RARELY STILL!

I think it's just how he is. To us, it appears awkward but he obviously gets something from it and when I ask him he says he doesn't realize he's moving differently.

He runs quite oddly too! He's soooo fast....runs like a spider! But, he keeps his arms mostly by his side. If he used his arms "normally" to add momentum and balance, he'd be up for the Olympics, for sure!