Dynamic balance in people with and without visual impairment analyzed on an unstable platform

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The analysis of postural control in individuals with and without visual impairments under unstable conditions contributes to understanding the role of vision and other sensory systems in maintaining balance.

AIM: to compare dynamic balance between individuals with and without visual impairment.

METHODS: Seventeen participants (24-58 years) with visual impairment, including totally blind and partially sighted individuals (blind people, BP), and 16 sighted individuals (sighted people, SP; 18-55 years). Participants performed three 10-s trials of a balance task on an unstable platform, in both parallel and semi-tandem foot positions. The platform recorded total balance time, mean balance time, and the number of imbalance events, in both the medio-lateral and antero-posterior directions.

RESULTS: Under visual conditions, the sighted group demonstrated better balance performance than blind group. When visual input was removed, the performance of sighted individuals declined, reaching similar levels to the blind participants. Even though visually impaired individuals may develop compensatory strategies through long-term reliance on non-visual sensory inputs, suggesting that such adaptations may not fully compensate in unstable conditions.. Sighted individuals outperformed the BP group when visual information was available, and performed similarly without vision. The presence of vision notably benefited the sighted group.

INTERPRETATION: The findings highlight that, under visual occlusion, the dynamic balance of sighted individuals deteriorates to a level similar to that of visually impaired individuals. This suggests that the absence of visual input places comparable demands on postural control. These results underscore the importance of non-visual sensory strategies for understanding balance in the visually impaired.