Improved balance performance accompanied by structural plasticity in blind adults after training

Rogge, Ann-Kathrin; Hötting, Kirsten; Nagel, Volker; Zech, Astrid; Hölig, Cordula; Röder, Brigitte

doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.04.005

Cited by 11 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 106 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Postural stability and gait parameters. The present results on balance performance of blind and visually impaired individuals are in line with studies reporting lower postural stability for blind or visually impaired than for sighted children (Müürsepp et al 2018;Zipori et al 2018) and sighted adults (Aydoğ et al 2006;Campayo-Piernas et al 2017;Giagazoglou et al 2009;Ozdemir et al 2013;Rogge et al 2019;Schmid et al 2007;Schwesig et al 2011;Sobry et al 2014), suggesting that postural stability is affected by the absence of visual cues, irrespective of the age of the individuals. The results have been interpreted as the absence of compensatory mechanisms in the blind, that is, no enhanced or superior use of non-visual input for balance control (Campayo-Piernas et al 2017;Ozdemir et al 2013;Schmid et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…The data of the present study are in line with this hypothesis: Blind and visually impaired children and adolescents were less physically active than age-matched sighted controls, but those blind participants reporting more weekly physical exercise performed better in balance tasks than sedentary peers and moreover showed a lower stride time variability. While no causal relationship can be derived from a cross-sectional study design, we recently demonstrated in a longitudinal training study that balance training of no more than 12 weeks significantly improved balance performance of blind adults (Rogge et al 2019), indicating that balance skills of blind individuals can be increased by specific practice. In the present study, balance performance of blind and visually impaired individuals was related to self-reported physical exercise, but not to everyday activities such as taking the stairs or walking to school.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…However, physically active blind children and adults were found to outperform blind sedentary individuals in postural tasks and displayed enhanced gait velocity (Aydoğ et al 2006;da Silva et al 2018;Müürsepp et al 2018). A recent study in blind adults has shown that 12 weeks of balance training was sufficient to increase blind participants' balance performance to a level of untrained sighted adults with eyes open (Rogge et al 2019). By contrast, cardiorespiratory fitness had not changed after training, suggesting a specific gain in postural control and self-motion perception which could not be explained by an increase in overall physical fitness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Balance, gait, and navigation performance are related to physical exercise in blind and visually impaired children and adolescents

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Self-motion perception used for locomotion and navigation requires the integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive input. In the absence of vision, postural stability and locomotor tasks become more difficult. Previous research has suggested that in visually deprived children, postural stability and levels of physical activity are overall lower than in sighted controls. Here we hypothesized that visually impaired and blind children and adolescents differ from sighted controls in postural stability and gait parameters, and that physically active individuals outperform sedentary peers in postural stability and gait parameters as well as in navigation performance. Fourteen blind and visually impaired children and adolescents (8–18 years of age) and 14 matched sighted individuals took part. Assessments included postural sway, single-leg stance time, parameters of gait variability and stability, self-reported physical activity, and navigation performance. Postural sway was larger and single-leg stance time was lower in blind and visually impaired participants than in blindfolded sighted individuals. Physical activity was higher in the sighted group. No differences between the group of blind and visually impaired and blindfolded sighted participants were observed for gait parameters and navigation performance. Higher levels of physical activity were related to lower postural sway, longer single-leg stance time, higher gait stability, and superior navigation performance in blind and visually impaired participants. The present data suggest that physical activity may enhance postural stability and gait parameters, and thereby promote navigation performance in blind and visually impaired children and adolescents.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Balance, gait, and navigation performance are related to physical exercise in blind and visually impaired children and adolescents

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It seems that specific training, besides improving balance, also induces neural plasticity in brain regions associated with somatosensory and vestibular processing (3,15). This improvement in balance performance in blind subjects could be related to specific training that stimulate the neuroplasticity of some brain structures (15,20,21).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date, little has been written on the effects of proprioceptive exercises on improvements in PC and balance in individuals with blindness. Rogge et al (15) showed that balance training is capable to improve balance performance in blind adults after 6 weeks at various types of balance exercises. Others have indirectly cited in studies quantifying PC in these individuals using moving platforms, with reports of improvements in balance following the sessions (1,3).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Combined With Proprioceptive Training for Blind Individuals: The Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To maintain the balance, the postural system needs to integrate the three main sensorial systems: visual, vestibular, and somatosensory to keep postural control within the limits of stabilization. Damage of one of these systems, in this case, the vision, will have a great disturbance on the postural control influencing the behavior of the balance, resulting in falls. The aim of this study protocol for a randomized, controlled clinical trial is to analyze the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with proprioceptive exercises on postural control in individuals with congenital and acquired blindness. In this randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial, male, and female individuals with blindness between 18 and 55 years of age will participate in this study divided into three phases: 1—Determine differences in postural control and gait between individuals with congenital and acquired blindness with and without the use of a guide stick when wearing shoes and when barefoot; 2—A pilot study to analyze the effects a bilateral cerebellar anodal tDCS on postural on postural control and gait; and 3—A treatment protocol will be conducted in which the participants will be allocated to four groups: G1—active tDCS + dynamic proprioceptive exercises; G2—sham tDCS + dynamic proprioceptive exercises; G3—active tDCS + static proprioceptive exercises; and G4—sham tDCS + static proprioceptive exercises. Evaluations will involve a camera system for three-dimensional gait analysis, a force plate, and electromyography. Dynamic stability will be determined using the Timed Up and Go test and static stability will be analyzed with the aid of the force plate. The viability of this study will allow the determination of differences in postural control between individuals with congenital and acquired blindness, the analysis of the effect of tDCS on postural control, and the establishment of a rehabilitation protocol.

show abstract

Visual stimulation rehabilitation for cortical blindness after vertebral artery interventional surgery: A case report and literature review

Wang,

Zou,

Jiang

et al. 2023

International Journal of Surgery Case Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Improved balance performance accompanied by structural plasticity in blind adults after training

Cited by 11 publications

References 106 publications

Balance, gait, and navigation performance are related to physical exercise in blind and visually impaired children and adolescents

Balance, gait, and navigation performance are related to physical exercise in blind and visually impaired children and adolescents

The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Combined With Proprioceptive Training for Blind Individuals: The Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Visual stimulation rehabilitation for cortical blindness after vertebral artery interventional surgery: A case report and literature review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About