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Postural control in blinds and in Usher's syndrome.
I Pyykkö1, M Vesikivi, H Ishizaki
1Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Helsinki, Finland.
Acta Oto-Laryngologica. Supplementum
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Blind individuals and those with Usher syndrome exhibit distinct postural control. While Usher syndrome impairs visual conditions, blindness enhances stability on unstable surfaces, indicating effective compensation for sensory loss.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Vestibular System
Background:
- Postural control relies on visual, vestibular, and somatosensory inputs.
- Usher syndrome involves hearing loss and progressive vision loss, including retinitis pigmentosa.
- Blindness necessitates reliance on non-visual sensory systems for balance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare postural control mechanisms in blind individuals and those with Usher syndrome against healthy controls.
- To investigate the impact of visual and surface conditions on postural stability in these groups.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated postural control in 10 blind subjects, 10 with Usher syndrome, and 27 healthy controls.
- Tests were conducted under visual and non-visual conditions.
- Surface conditions included rigid and foam rubber surfaces.
Main Results:
- Subjects with Usher syndrome performed worse in visual conditions but equally well in non-visual conditions compared to controls.
- Blind subjects performed equally well as controls on a rigid surface but significantly better on a foam rubber surface.
- Postural stability in Usher syndrome was aggravated by retinal degeneration despite compensated vestibulo-cochlear function.
Conclusions:
- Retinal degeneration significantly impacts postural stability in Usher syndrome.
- Blind individuals demonstrate superior postural control on perturbed surfaces, highlighting effective sensory compensation.
- Vestibular compensation is effective in Usher syndrome, but visual impairment poses challenges for postural control.