Gower's sign?? Typical of ASD?

[Laceyshoes]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone on here has got a child with ASD/adhd/dyspraxia/spd etc who does the gower manoeuvre when they are getting up from sitting or lying on the floor?

DS1 (age 4) does this and im petrified that it means he's got duchennes muscular dystrophy. He has got complex undiagnosed additional needs (scored in moderate autism range on ADOS, has full time 1-1 at preschool) and he has difficulties with gross motor skills and has some hypermobility too.

I'm going to ask his paediatrician if the issue can be investigated but in the meantime, I was hoping for some reassurance that the gower's manoeuvre was a relatively common thing with ASD type conditions and that lots of people's DC do it

I don't think anyone can really reassure you, if you are worried... defo go to paed and request referral. I can reccomend Professor Muntoni and Mazur and the Dubowitz Neuromuscular clinic (Great Ormond Street)

DS2 was referred there when he was 4 and we saw them for years ..and the take referrals from all over.. we are in Oxfordshire. They are THE NM experts and some of the kindest nicest docs we have ever met.

DS2 was hypotonic, did the Gower's manoevre, was overall floppy andthey were very thorough in their tests... muscle biopsy, nerve tests etc. He had an abnormal biopsy but non specific (so no precise diagnosis) but has not deteriorated with age.. yes he wears afos but he is walking and even running sort of!

Does your son have any other signs? Enlarged calf muscles?
Also.. there are other forms of neuromuscular diseases, myopathy, etc that present similarly but are MUCH less scary.

Getting referred is the first step xxx

Well I do it and I have spinal damage, but my dd who has hypermobile joints did it for a while.

I think there are an awful lot of causes long before you get to duchennes's

Also the muscle weakness is classically seen with ASD sO that seems likely to me on the information you have given. I heard just the other day of a 7 year old with ASD who did Gowers.

You have a lot on your plate, and I'm guessing it has its overwhelming moments like this. I can't tell you it isn't duchennes but I can say that whatever dc has, the best thing life is giving him right now is a very caring mum like you.

Thanks guys, DS1 hasn't got enlarged calf muscles but he can't hop and can't run properly. He can climb stairs but takes ages and often asks to be carried and when he's going downstairs, he puts both feet on each step. Also he's got weak mouth muscles, he can't blow (ie blowing bubbles) and he slurs his words a lot. He gets tired really easily. His preschool 1-1 and portage therapist both think his fine motor skills have come on loads recently but gross motor skills haven't improved at the same rate.

Also DS2 is almost 15 months and he can't stand up unsupported yet. He crawled late and babbled very late and doesn't have any words yet. I'm trying not to worry about him too much yet as what will be, will be. But his delayed walking as well as DS1 doing the gower manoeuvre is making me nervous.

Thank you both by the way, for the reassuring information that your DC did this and didn't have duchennes. I know that It doesn't follow that my boys are ok too BUT just to hear that it's not always duchennes is a great relief.

My youngest DS is 6 and has ASD, low muscle tone, hypermobility and severe dyspraxia. He didn't walk until 2.5, still cannot go down steps without putting both feet on each step (always goes down on his bottom if we're at home) and didn't learn to jump from the ground until he was 5. He still can't jump off a step, hop or anything like that and is very floppy and falls more easily than NT children. He also walks with an immature gait. We saw a paediatric neurologist when he was 2, but I didn't want to have any tests done and fortunately, he has slowly improved in his motor skills, just on a completely different trajectory from his peers. One of my other DS's was also delayed with his motor skills (walked at 21 months and didn't stand unaided till nearly 17 months). He is 9 now and still has problems with fine motor skills; can't ride a bike etc.

To be honest, I had Duchennes at the back of my mind with DS's 2 and 3, but like others have said there are a lot more less scary causes for motor skills problems.

I should have said to think about a paediatric OT assessment with a therapist who does sensory stuff. An independent one is about £300 I think. The NHS ones might be a bit less expert, but could be really helpful with stairs etc.

The ASD lad I talked about above has really improved with swimming/water exercises, so mentioning that just in case that helps.

You might be able to get some hydrotherapy somewhere - I know one on Kent/Sussex border with a charitable backing scheme.

You wouldn't be human if you weren't nervous. It is a parental right to worry. My dad is 87 and still worrying about me crossing the road....

Sorry for late reply senvet, yes I think I will email the OT that DS1 was seeing at the assessment centre he took the ADOS at.

He does like swimming, ne hasn't been for ages but his dad is talking about taking him more regularly, I think he likes the 1-1 time with his dad as well :)

Ah bless your dad for worrying about you crossing the road! My mum worries about me and its annoying but I tell myself I'll miss it one day...

Hi zen1, sorry for replying so late. Glad to hear that your boys are basically ok ie none of the gross motor skills issues arising from something life threatening :) Do you mind me asking if either of them do, or did, the gower manouevre? That's the thing that's freaked me out suddenly :-/

lads and dads at the pool...
have a good weekend

Lacey, I didn't know what the Gower Manoeuvre was until I googled it after reading your OP (it was the very late walking and other motor problems that had me worried about Duchennes). After googling it, I read that children can display it to varying degrees. I don't remember my DCs putting their hands on their hips/thighs as they went from sitting to standing but I do remember DS3 particularly pushing his hands on the floor to get to a standing position.