Body Balance Analysis in the Visually Impaired Individuals Aged 18-24 Years

Exploring the role of reduced optic flow in dynamic balance

INTRODUCTION

When optic flow-related visual feedback is reduced to zero (no scene motion with head motion), the amplitude of postural sway increases. However, there is limited work examining the amount of optic flow required to maintain stable (or baseline) amplitudes of postural sway, especially during dynamic stance tasks where there is an increased reliance on visual cues.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the present study was to examine optic flow during dynamic stance and determine the amount of optic flow required before postural sway deviates from conditions with a gain of 1.

METHODS

Twenty-six healthy adults stood on a force plate (used to calculate Centre of Pressure; COP) mounted to a motorized platform that pseudo-randomly translated continuously in the anteroposterior direction ( ± 5 cm, 0-1 Hz) for 60-s. Participants wore a virtual reality head-mounted display, used to show a virtual environment and assess head position (HeadPos). Optic flow-related visual feedback was reduced relative to head motion (0-1 in 0.25x increments). Amplitude and mean power (MP for four bands: LOW, 0-0.1 Hz; MED, 0.1-0.5 Hz; MED-HIGH, 0.5-1 Hz; HIGH, 1-5 Hz) of COP and HeadPos was used to quantify movement.

RESULTS

COP and HeadPos amplitude, and MED-MP increased when optic flow gain was less than 0.5x.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, half the amount of optic flow-related visual feedback is enough to sustain levels of postural sway observed in real-world conditions (gain of 1). Visual contributions to dynamic balance control likely extend beyond previously theorized frequencies (<0.1 Hz in quiet stance), signifying the importance of vision during complex postural tasks.

Adapted Training to Boost Upper Body Sensorimotor Control and Daily Living Functionality in Visually Impaired Baseball Players

Background and Objectives: Vision significantly contributes to postural control, balance, coordination, and body kinematics, thus deeply influencing everyday functionality. Sight-impaired subjects often show upper body anatomofunctional and kinetic chain alterations negatively impacting daily living efficiency and autonomy. The present study aimed to investigate and train, for the first time, upper body sensorimotor control in an Italian blind baseball team to boost global and segmental functionality while contemporarily prevent injuries. Materials and Methods: The whole team underwent a validated test battery using both quantitative traditional tools, such as goniometric active range of motion and muscular/functional tests, and an innovative biofeedback-based device, a Libra proprioceptive board. Consequently, a 6-week adapted training protocol was designed and leaded to improve sensorimotor control and, hence, counteract disability-related deficits and sport-specific overuse syndromes. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in all the investigated parameters. Noteworthy, an overall boost of global and segmental stability was detected through an orthostatic dynamic balance enhancement during the Y Balance test (p = 0.01) and trunk multiplanar control improvement on the Libra board (p = 0.01). Concurrently, the comparison of baseline vs. post-intervention outcomes revealed a consistent increase in upper body mobility (p < 0.05 for all the assessed districts), core recruitment (p = 0.01 for all the administered functional tests), and proprioceptive postural control (p = 0.01 for the Libra board validated test). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a tailored sensorimotor training, conceived and led by an adapted physical activity kinesiologist, may effectively improve upper body functional prerequisites and global proprioceptive control, thus potentially promoting autonomy, quality of life, and physical activity/sport practice adherence in visually impaired individuals.

The Barrier to Accessing Dental Healthcare Services Among the Institutionalized Visually Impaired Adults: A Qualitative Study

Many studies have focused on the overall oral health of people with visual impairment, but there is a dearth of studies on the barriers to accessing dental healthcare services among institutionalized visually impaired people. Therefore, the current study aims to assess the barriers to accessing dental healthcare services among institutionalized visually impaired people.

METHODS

A qualitative study design was conducted over the course of 10 months among institutionalized visually impaired individuals. A semi-structured interview was conducted among the participants. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and qualitatively analyzed using MAXQDA software, version 22.0 (VERBI Software, Berlin).

RESULTS

A total of 20 participants participated in the study. Three levels were used to classify the investigated barriers: the individual's level, which pertains to the obstacles they encountered in receiving oral health care and their viewpoints on the way that care is provided; the interpersonal degree and the system level, in order to determine the broader components and their impact.

CONCLUSION

This study gives insight into the problems people have in assessing the dental services and facilities available. Three levels were used to identify the barriers among the study participants. Six themes emerged in the study that described their problems, which affected their mental health directly.

Effects of Simulated Visual Impairment Conditions on Movement and Anxiety during Gap Crossing

This study investigated the effects of visual conditions associated with progressive eye disease on movement patterns and anxiety levels during gap-crossing tasks. Notably, 15 healthy young adults performed crossover platforms with a 10 cm gap at three different heights, namely equal (0 cm), raised (+15 cm), and lowered (-15 cm) levels, under four vision conditions, namely normal or corrected eyesight, 10° tunnel vision, 5° tunnel vision, and 5° tunnel vision with 0.04 occlusion. Leg movements during gap crossing were analyzed using three-dimensional motion analysis. The results highlighted a distinct motion pattern in the trajectories of participants' legs under the different visual conditions. Specifically, at the point where the gap-crossing movement began (D1), the normal or corrected eyesight conditions resulted in further separation between the steps compared with the other visual conditions. The highest point of the foot during movement (D2) did not differ between the visual conditions, except for the 0 cm step. Furthermore, anxiety levels, as quantified by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) questionnaire, were exacerbated under conditions of restricted visual information. In conclusion, visual impairments associated with progressive ocular diseases may perturb complex motor movement patterns, including those involved in gap-crossing tasks, with heightened anxiety potentially amplifying these disturbances.

Impacts of visual impairment on pragmatic impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Consideration for patients with visual impairment, from low vision to blindness, is an important part of building a barrier-free society. Some authors have elaborated that visual impairment can indeed lead to delayed development in theory of mind, thereby causing pragmatic knowledge deficiency. Verifying whether those with eye conditions have pragmatic impairment is an essential way for their clinical evaluation, intervention and rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE

We primarily carry out a meta-analysis of visual impairment from low vision to blindness and pragmatic impairment in people with low vision or blindness to verify visual impairment may cause pragmatic impairment.

DATA SOURCES

Electronic databases Pubmed, Medline, MesH, Psychinfo, Ovid, EBSCO and CNKI and the reference sections of previous reviews.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies were included when they built on primary data from clinical questionnaire surveys or field trials anywhere in the world, and when they reported impacts of visual impairment on social cognition, communication, skills, behavior and intelligence. In total, 25 original studies were included, in which 25735 people were evaluated.

RESULTS

Statistically, visual impairments and pragmatic impairment exist correlation due to the significant p value(p = 0.0005 < 0.05) in group and the subgroup sorted in the light of 18 years old (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.003 < 0.05). Psychologically, because people with visual impairment can not normally get non-verbal information, they can not get a complete pragmatic knowledge system. Pragmatic knowledge deficiency leads to abnormal in executive functions and development delay from the perspective of theory of mind, inducing pragmatic impairment. Therefore, visual impairment has an impact on pragmatic impairment.

CONCLUSION

The meta-analysis reveals robust evidence on the relationship of vision impairment and pragmatic impairment in children or adults. Such evidence may help to gradually improve the clinical evaluation, intervention and rehabilitation of these people.

Physical activity and sport practice to improve balance control of visually impaired individuals: a narrative review with future perspectives

Visual disability negatively impacts balance, everyday self-efficacy, and mobility and often leads affected subjects to perceive physical exercise as a burdensome challenge thus discouraging them from practicing. Despite the well-proven benefits of regular physical activity in visually impaired people, especially addressing postural control, there are no specific guidelines and most of the available literature seems to be flawed by critical issues. Given the wide heterogeneity and the multidimensional needs of this population, a more realistic and target-specific perspective is needed in order to properly investigate and promote exercise practice and adherence for balance improvement. On this basis, through a critical overview of the recent literature, the present article aimed to enrich the current knowledge about this topic by providing innovative suggestions, both practical and methodological, and specifically deepening the disability-related deficits and peculiarities of different age ranges. Moreover, since a multidisciplinary approach is advisable when designing and leading exercise protocols tailored to visually impaired individuals, such innovative hints also highlighted the central role of the adapted physical activity specialist, hence contributing to foster its official professional recognition and involvement in this field.

Balance and Fall Risk Assessment in Community-Dwelling Older Adults after Recovery from COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

SARS-CoV-2 atypical symptoms in older persons include falls, confusion, dizziness, and unusual weariness. Falls and their consequences are among the most prevalent causes of disability among older adults, significantly lowering quality of life and resulting in the loss of independence as well as impaired psychosocial functioning. The study purpose was to examine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease on balance in community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

Sixty-four older adults aged ≥ 60 years from both sexes, 31 treated for SARS-CoV-2 infection and 33 matched normal controls participated in the study. The Biodex Stability System (BSS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used for evaluation of balance and fall risk. The correlation between the Biodex overall stability index and the Berg Balance Scale score was investigated.

RESULTS

When compared to controls, the SARS-CoV-2 group had significantly higher values of the Biodex overall stability index (OSI) (p = 0.011), anterior-posterior stability index (APSI) (p = 0.013), mediolateral stability index (MLSI) (p = 0.018), and fall risk index (FRI) (p = 0.008), as well as statistically lower scores on the Berg balance scale (p = 0.003). A moderate negative correlation was found between the two assessment tools in the SARS-CoV-2 group.

CONCLUSION

Balance impairment and an increased risk of falling are among the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in community-dwelling older adults.