ASD and Clumsiness

[FayetheAspie]

When I was little I had a lot of coordination issues. It was hard learning to balance my bike or even tie my shoes. Eventually though I learn not only how to do these things, but also love to do balancing tricks such as in my walking cane routine pictured below. I can't post video on this forum so I took some screenshots. Basically I balance it on my hand transfer it between hands and spin it and things like that. Sometimes I will have a part where I have it balanced on my hand while I gallop.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I have other tricks like these that I enjoy as well such as balancing on my knees on a pilates ball and walking on narrow (though low to the ground for safety ) ledges. I hope to one day work my way up to a tightrope.
All of that said though, I still find myself tripping over things, walking into the wall or the corner of a counter, ect. Just this morning, I ran into something in the hallway.

 

[Rodafina]

So cool, @FayetheAspie. I think your post is a great reminder that we may have things that do not come naturally to us, but that certainly doesn’t mean we can’t learn new skills and improve our abilities over time. Everything from coordination to understanding others to making those blasted phone calls. There is always room for practice and learning.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My nephew is on the spectrum he is profoundly gifted athletically.

 

[Outdated]

All of that said though, I still find myself tripping over things, walking into the wall or the corner of a counter, ect.

I do these things too yet I always had superb balance and fine motor control.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My mothers family was very athletic explaining her grand children, my oldest son had his oxygen level tested once with professional athlete his was much better. shocked both of them.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I definitely would not consider myself to be athletic; however, I have learned to balance myself and various objects quite well.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I never outgrew my clumsiness. I'm actually in the waiting room to have my shoulder x-rayed from falling down a flight of stairs.

I have scars everywhere from all the bumping into things, poking, cutting, or burning myself.

BUT, somehow though I stumble a LOT, I don't fall down while walking except once when one foot stepped on the other when I was turning.

My stumbles often look comically intense, but somehow I keep upright in the end. My balance is very dynamic.

 

[Jumpinbare]

When I was little I had a lot of coordination issues. It was hard learning to balance my bike or even tie my shoes. Eventually though I learn not only how to do these things, but also love to do balancing tricks such as in my walking cane routine

Sometimes it seems we are brother-sister twins born to separate parents decades apart. I don't balance objects though.

 

[Judge]

I want to say I have never considered myself "clumsy" as such....but the more recent post reminds me as well of all the scars I have on both of my shins.

Then again I once had an NT girlfriend who seemed quite clumsy, and with a profound lack of balance in general. Especially when she fell and broke her right wrist and had to wear a cast for a month. For nearly the first two weeks she seemed utterly helpless, leaving me to do nearly everything for her as she remained in tears much of the time. It was an intense loss of independence for her. Up to that time, I had no idea how an adult could be so physically helpless on even the simplest level.

I also had another NT girlfriend before her, who on occasion I wanted to also call "clumsy". However her issues were based largely on alcohol consumption which obviously skewed her sense of coordination.

I suppose such considerations are relative...regardless of neurological considerations.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My older brother was clumsy, yet my nephew looks like him bright like him even sounds like him, yet is profoundly athletic, plays hockey like the great one. strange to see.

 

[Judge]

My older brother was clumsy, yet my nephew looks like him bright like him even sounds like him, yet is profoundly athletic, plays hockey like the great one. strange to see.

Makes me wonder how much data will be accumulated regarding the recent return of our astronauts after being on the ISS for an extended amount of time. It's known how that lack of gravity can prey on a human body.

Interesting to think of good- or bad, yet extremely different physical environments might impact people.

 

[tlc]

I have great balance, also walk very quietly without trying. Which is due to staying balanced when carrying things, without spilling them.

Fine motor skills are excellent, like working on cars and small things. Great with spatial reasoning, like packing the most into a car or storage unit.

But I’m still clumsy. If I’m under a low ceiling I’ll usually smack my head with getting up. Or run into the corners of things. Sports are a no go. Can’t catch a ball to save my life.

 

[Rodafina]

I think my biggest issue in this area is poor depth perception and an exaggerated startle reflex. I seem to be frequently jumping out of the way of things that aren’t as close as I thought and this can certainly cause a scene that appears to be clumsiness.

 

[Jumpinbare]

Sports are a no go. Can’t catch a ball to save my life.

Amen! Preach it brother!

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Never played baseball as kid I'm Dutch, bit of soccer with dad. Not into sports so no idea if clumsy or not.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Never played baseball as kid I'm Dutch, bit of soccer with dad. Not into sports so no idea if clumsy or not.

If you're clumsy, you don't have to play sports to know it.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My older brother was clumsy, I'm good with tools, ambidextrous. can easily chuck tool from one hand to other while using it. For instance hammer. couple hits chuck couple hits smooth motion. Screw diver couple turns transfer couple turns. Confuses any body watching Is he right or left handed. If using a wrench would just toss to other hand not even be aware.

 

[Outdated]

I have great balance, also walk very quietly without trying. Which is due to staying balanced when carrying things, without spilling them.

Fine motor skills are excellent, like working on cars and small things. Great with spatial reasoning, like packing the most into a car or storage unit.

But I’m still clumsy. If I’m under a low ceiling I’ll usually smack my head with getting up. Or run into the corners of things. Sports are a no go. Can’t catch a ball to save my life.

That whole lot sounds very much like me. I can't wear a hat, if I do I'll keep hitting my head on anything that's just the right height. I was always hopeless at throwing and catching balls - cricket and baseball, but I did alright with a football, catching that is, in our game throwing the ball is illegal.

When living in the bush and hunting my own food I discovered that I'm reasonably good at throwing stones or knives, yet if someone on a building site asks me to throw a tool to them it could go anywhere and usually at high velocity.

 

[SusanLR]

I had difficulty learning to ride a bike and tie shoes when I first started as a kid.
Parents wanted me to try other things they did like roller skating or ice skating.
No way, I wouldn't even try.
I didn't like any type of sports in school. Tried baseball but never could hit or catch and running was not my thing either. Forget PE gymnastics.

The balance abilities got better by age 13. I was doing tricks with my bike and taking Tai Chi with some basic Kung Fu improved stealth, balance and walking tremendously.
Hand/eye coordination was never a problem. Fine motor skills were good.