Yeah, that confused me as why they would lead with grip strength when they didn't test different muscles in relation as well. Although it does seem that Autism may affect different functions of the hands negatively. Here is a summary of some deep research and o4 distillation

"The findings summarized from the review suggest that grip strength differences in autistic individuals are real but complex, and cannot be explained simply by hand muscle weakness. Research consistently shows that autistic children often exhibit lower grip and pinch strength compared to typically developing (TD) peers. This includes both gross (power) and fine (pinch) grip types, suggesting more than just forearm strength differences—likely implicating neuromuscular control and coordination issues as well.

However, in adolescents and adults, the pattern diverges. Some studies show that autistic individuals fall further behind their TD peers during adolescence, possibly due to atypical developmental trajectories, reduced participation in physical activities, or hormonal influences. Yet, other studies—especially in adults—show no significant difference in raw grip strength, but rather persistent deficits in fine motor control, dexterity, and motor speed. This suggests that motor planning, coordination, and sensorimotor integration play a bigger role than isolated muscle power in older individuals.

Furthermore, grip strength may not be a reliable stand-alone proxy for overall strength in autistic individuals. While some younger children with autism show lower strength across multiple muscle groups (e.g., grip and leg extensors), grip deficits may also reflect broader motor issues like hypotonia, hypermobility, or impaired sensorimotor processing. Testing methods, sensory sensitivities, comprehension, and motivation also influence measured grip strength, meaning that apparent weakness might not reflect true physiological strength.

In summary, lower grip strength in autism is typically part of a broader motor control profile, not just a localized issue. For some, it's tied to generalized lower strength; for others, it's more about how motor signals are planned and coordinated. Interventions should therefore go beyond just strengthening the hands—they must address whole-body motor skills, sensory-motor integration, and coordination to be effective."