IJPR.2017.167
Type of Article: Original Research
Volume 5; Issue 4 (July 2017)
Page No.: 2178-2186
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijpr.2017.167
INFLUENCES OF VISUAL AND PLANTAR SENSORY INFORMATION ON STANDING POSTURAL CONTROL: A COMPARISON BETWEEN VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND SIGHTED INDIVIDUALS
Nami Shida *, Yumi Ikeda, Yorimitsu Furukawa, Hironobu Kuruma.
Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan
Address for Correspondence: Nami Shida, Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan. E-Mail: shida@tmu.ac.jp
ABSTRACT
Background: Information from other sensory organs may become more important for the visually impaired individuals. However, very few reports on this type of sensory compensation have been published.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of visual information and plantar sensory information on standing postural control by comparing visually impaired and sighted individuals.
Materials and Methods: The study included 22 adult men with no visual impairment (sighted group) and 13 adult men with visual impairment (visually impaired group). We performed Equitest measurements under conditions with 12 possible factors, including visual information (eyes closed, eyes open, and dynamic visual environment), plantar sensory information (with or without a textured sheet placed under the feet), and platform stability (stable or unstable). A three-way analysis of variance was performed.
Results: Significantly higher balance strategy scores were observed in the sighted group than in the visually impaired group, indicating better balance without a textured sheet and on an unstable platform. Latency was significantly shorter in the sighted group than in the visually impaired group. Relative response strength scores were higher in the visually impaired group with the textured sheet and backward shifting platform than in the sighted group, indicating a superior stability.
Conclusion: In postural control without visual information while standing on a surface in motion, plantar information that originated from textured sheets was more effective in assisting balance in visually impaired individuals than in sighted individuals.
Key words: Postural control, visual impairment, plantar sensations, eyes closed.
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