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Balance Functional Assessment in People with Visual Impairment
Izabela Rutkowska1, Grzegorz Bednarczuk2, Bartosz Molik1
1Department of Sports for Individuals with Disabilities, Department of Theo Movement, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland.
Journal of Human Kinetics
|February 3, 2016
Summary
Children with visual impairments, especially the blind, exhibit significantly poorer balance compared to sighted individuals. Balance skills decline with reduced vision and vary by age, necessitating tailored fitness programs.
Area of Science:
- Kinesiology
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Balance is crucial for daily activities and physical fitness.
- Visual impairment significantly impacts motor development and functional abilities.
- Limited research exists on the balance capabilities of visually impaired children and adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the balance performance of visually impaired individuals using the Bruininks-Oseretsky test (BOT-2).
- To compare the balance scores of visually impaired children and adolescents against able-bodied standards.
- To identify factors influencing balance difficulties, including age and degree of vision loss.
Main Methods:
- One hundred twenty-seven visually impaired subjects (ages 6-16) participated.
- Participants were categorized as partially sighted (n=61) or blind (n=66) per WHO classification.
- Functional balance was assessed using the BOT-2 balance subtest.
Main Results:
- Balance significantly correlated with age (p<0.05) and degree of vision loss (p<0.001).
- Blind subjects demonstrated balance levels substantially below able-bodied averages (20% below or well-below).
- Partially sighted individuals had better balance than blind individuals; reduced visual acuity led to poorer balance skills.
Conclusions:
- Age and visual impairment severity are primary determinants of balance in children and adolescents.
- The lowest balance levels were observed in blind students aged 7-11 years.
- Physical fitness programs must consider age, vision loss degree, and balance limitations for visually impaired youth.
