The influence of saccadic eye movements on postural stability during standing on an unstable platform

Abstract

Background: Vision is seen as an important factor in maintaining balance, but different visual conditions, such as following a cue or looking in one direction may increase or decrease body sway. Contradicting results in earlier studies focusing on visual control of posture show the same eye movements' conditions have a different impact on postural stability. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of different eye movements on standing balance performance. Methods: Thirty-two healthy students (age 22.8 ± 2.7 years) participated in the study. Participants were asked to follow a stationary dot and moving dots in horizontal and vertical directions in low and high frequencies while standing on a stabilometer - an unstable platform which allows movement in the frontal plane. Results: There was no impact of different saccadic speeds (p = .251, partial η2 =.044) nor different directions (p = .287, partial η2 = .039) on a postural sway in young adults. Conclusions: The postural stability is not influenced by visual stimuli in healthy young adults while maintaining balance on an unstable platform.

Keywords

• postural stability
• stabilometer
• visual manipulation
• eye tracker