Role of visual input in the control of dynamic balance: variability and instability of gait in treadmill walking while blindfolded

Abstract

While vision obviously plays an essential role in orienting and obstacle avoidance, its role in the regulation of dynamic balance is not yet fully understood. The objective of this study was to assess dynamic stability while blindfolded, under optimal conditions that minimized the fear of falling. The hypothesis was that visual deprivation could be compensated for by using other sensory strategies to stabilize gait. One hundred healthy adults (aged 20-69 years) participated in the study. They were previously accustomed to blindfolded treadmill walking wearing a safety harness. Their preferred walking speeds (PWS) were assessed with eyes open (PWSEO) and with eyes closed (blindfolded, PWSEC). Three five-minute tests were performed: (A) normal walking at PWSEO, (B) blindfolded walking at PWSEC, and (C) normal walking at PWSEC. Trunk acceleration was measured with a lightweight inertial sensor. Dynamic stability was assessed by using (1) acceleration root mean square (RMS), which estimates the variability of the signal, and hence, the smoothness of the trunk movement and (2) local dynamic stability (LDS), which reflects the efficiency of the motor control to stabilize the trunk. Although walking at PWSEC with eyes open (comparing conditions A and C) had a slight impact on gait stability (relative difference: RMS +4 %, LDS -5 %), no destabilizing effect of visual deprivation (B vs. C, RMS -4 %, LDS -1 %) was observed. Therefore, it is concluded that when reassuring conditions are offered to individuals while walking, they are able to adopt alternative sensory strategies to control dynamic equilibrium without the help of vision.