Full length articleGait and functionality of individuals with visual impairment who participate in sports
Introduction
Individuals with visual impairment (VI) self-select a lower walking speed than individuals with unimpaired vision [[1], [2], [3]]. Furthermore, it is well known that young, middle–aged and old adults with VI maintain low levels of physical activity [4] and greater sedentary behavior [5] than the overall population. As such, the lower self-selected walking speed (SSWS) in individuals with VI might partially depend on the reduced physical activity in this population. For instance, participation in disability sports has been shown to result in better static balance [[6], [7]] and decreased fear of falling [8] in individuals with VI.
Here, we set out to compare SSWS between VI athletes (individuals with VI who frequently practice disability sports) and active sighted individuals. In addition, we evaluated several functional outcomes: static unipedal balance, lower limb muscular endurance, and fear of falling. We hypothesized that individuals with VI who participate in sports regularly will show similar gait and functionality performances as sighted individuals, i.e. that physically active individuals with VI would have similar SSWS, static balance, lower limb muscular endurance and fear of falling as sighted individuals.
Section snippets
Methods
Twelve football and goalball players with blindness (VI; age: 31.5 ± 10.8, range 18–50 years, 4 female), and 12 physically active sighted individuals (SG; 26.0 ± 7.7, 23–48 years, 4 female) participated in the study. The individuals with VI had been participating in sport over a period from 3 months to 29 years, and had several differences in origins of visual disease and duration of visual loss (Table 1). We adopted the definition of visual classes according to International Blind Sports
Results
Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between VI and SG for age, height, leg length, weight and body mass index (Table 3). Physical activity levels were similar between VI (11 active, 1 very active) and SG (9 active, 3 very active). No statistical differences between VI and SG for SSWS, LRI, or lower limbs muscular endurance were observed (Table 3). VI showed reduced balance compared to SG, when SG performed with their eyes open. However, this difference disappeared when SG
Discussion
It has been argued that VI individuals exhibit an impaired functional mobility, muscular endurance, and balance in comparison to control people [[1], [2], [3], [6], [7], [8]]. It has never been studied, however, whether VI individuals that actively participate in sport modalities retain these parameters deteriorated. Our hypothesis was confirmed showing that individuals with VI that participate in sports have similar gait and functional parameters as sighted controls. The sport participation
Conflict of interest statement
There are no commercial relationships which may lead to a conflict of interest with any of the authors.
References (20)
- et al.
Low vision affects dynamic stability of gait
Gait Posture
(2010) - et al.
The role of central vision in posture: postural sway adaptations in Stargardt patients
Gait Posture
(2016) Quantitative analysis of gait in the visually impaired
Disabil. Rehabil.
(1997)- et al.
Kinetic movement analysis in adults with vision loss
Adapt. Phys. Activ. Q.
(2007) - et al.
Objectively measured physical activity in Brazilians with visual impairment: description and associated factors
Disabil. Rehabil.
(2017) - et al.
Television time and the relationship to obesity in adults with visual impairments
JBIR
(2015) - et al.
Dynamic postural stability in blind athletes using the biodex stability system
Int. J. Sports Med.
(2006) - et al.
The effects of Tai Chi on the balance control of elderly persons with visual impairment: a randomised clinical trial
Age Ageing
(2012) - et al.
Capoeira para deficientes visuais: comparação do equilíbrio entre praticantes e não praticantes de capoeira
Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Esporte
(2012) Definition of Visual Classes
(2018)
Cited by (27)
Assessment of functional mobility and gait during a timed up and go test in adults with total blindness
2023, Journal of Bodywork and Movement TherapiesGround reaction forces during stair ascending and descending in congenitally blind and sighted individuals
2022, Gait and PostureCitation Excerpt :Also, as a consequences of the altered gait pattern in individuals with visual impairments, postural abnormalities and/or skeletal deformities are developed and a vicious circle is created [20,21]. This in turn may influence the static and dynamic postural control [22–24]. In sighted individuals, walking speed is correlated with step length, cadence, joint angles, external forces, and muscle activity [22].
Effects of exercise training programs on balance of blind children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2022, Journal of Bodywork and Movement TherapiesCitation Excerpt :However, because the variables used in these studies were not included in the inclusion criteria, the results of these studies were not analyzed. However, the results of these studies show that exercise programs have a significant effect on the components of motor function of blind people and improve walking speed, reduce the risk of falls and increase the quality of life of these people (da Silva et al., 2018; Hallemans et al., 2011; Khorrami-Nejad et al., 2016; Mansori et al., 2020; Omidi, Shamsi Majalan, Karimizadeh Ardakani, & Mansoori, 2019b). Also, the results of studies show that there is a significant relationship between these mobility factors and balance, and the reduction of each of these variables reduces the balance of blind people (Elsman et al., 2019; Parreira et al., 2017).
Para-soccer: Emphasising the complex and multidimensional factors when identifying and developing players with disabilities
2023, Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer: A Guide for Researchers and Practitioners