An experiment to classify the clinical fear seen during aerobic movement acquisition in adults with visual impairment

[Purpose] This study aimed to classify the fear that occurs during the process of a squat-like movement by persons with visual impairment. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen persons with a visual impairment, 45 years and older, who were independent in daily living were recruited for the study. The study utilized a field experiment design. The setting was the Kusatsumachi Welfare Center, and the study period was from March through August 2015. Outcome measures included the presence or absence of fear during attempt of a squat-like movement on a force plate. Metrics included the ratio of low and high frequency components of heart rate variability spectra (cm²/Hz) based on resting rate intervals (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT, USA). Autonomic hyperactivity was defined as the occurrence of objective fear with LF/HF ratio of over 2.0. Statistics included Fischer's exact test. [Results] Four fear types included the combination of danger and objective fear factors. The frequencies of occurrence of clinically categorized subjective fear across the four fear types were two (danger, fear), seven (no danger, fear), six (danger, no fear), and zero (no danger, no fear) persons. [Conclusion] This procedure of classifying fear might be feasible during evaluation of a squat-like movement by persons with a visual impairment.