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Visual field dependence in elderly fallers and non-fallers.

S R Lord¹, I W Webster

¹School of Community Medicine, University of New South Wales.

International Journal of Aging & Human Development

|January 1, 1990

Summary

Elderly individuals who have fallen are more visually field dependent, relying heavily on vision for balance. This increased visual dependence may contribute to falls and postural instability in older adults.

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Neuroscience
Vision Science

Background:

Visual field dependence, reliance on visual cues for spatial orientation, is a critical factor in maintaining balance.
Falls are a significant concern in the elderly population, often linked to impaired sensory systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between visual field dependence and a history of falls in older adults.
To compare the efficacy of two tests in discriminating between elderly fallers and non-fallers.

Main Methods:

136 participants (aged 59-97) were assessed using two visual field dependence tests: roll vection and the rod and frame test.
Participants were categorized into fallers (one or more falls in the past year) and non-fallers.

Main Results:

Fallers demonstrated significantly higher visual field dependence on both tests compared to non-fallers.
The roll vection test was a more effective discriminator between fallers and non-fallers than the rod and frame test.
Fallers showed greater mean errors in vertical perception (Rod and Frame: 20.7° vs 17.2°; Roll Vection: 6.6° vs 3.6°).

Conclusions:

Increased visual field dependence is associated with a history of falls in the elderly.
Visual stimuli, such as tilted or rolling environments, may contribute to postural instability and falls.
Greater reliance on vision in fallers may stem from diminished proprioceptive and vestibular function due to aging and health conditions.

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