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Abstract #54435 Published in IGR 15-3
Dual tasking and balance in those with central and peripheral vision losses
Kotecha A; Chopra R; Fahy RT; Rubin GSInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2013; 0:
See also comment(s) by Pradeep Ramulu •
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a secondary task on standing balance in patients with glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared with age-similar control subjects. METHODS: Twelve AMD, 12 glaucoma and 12 control participants underwent posturography under 2 standing conditions (eyes open on a firm or foam rubber surface) and 2 tasks: quiet standing and undertaking a mental arithmetic task. Centre of foot pressure average displacement (root mean square, RMS; mm) was calculated. RESULTS: The mean [standard deviation] age of the participants in each group was: controls 66.2 [6.4] years, glaucoma 69.2 [4.3] years, AMD 72.2 [5.3] years. There were significant differences in RMS between controls and AMD patients when undertaking the mental arithmetic task standing on the firm surface (mean difference [standard error;SE]: 2.8 [0.8] mm, p = 0.005). There were significant differences between controls and AMD patients when undertaking the mental arithmetic task on the foam surface, with the difference between controls and glaucoma patients approaching significance (mean difference [SE]: control vs AMD = 3.1 [0.9] mm, p = 0.005; control vs glaucoma = 2.2 [0.9] mm, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Postural instability increases with the addition of a secondary task in older persons, which may put them at greater risk of falls. Patients with central losses exhibit greater instability with the addition of a secondary task, particularly during somatosensory pertubations. The negative effects of secondary tasks on balance control in those with peripheral visual losses become more apparent under somatosensory perturbations.
NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom.
Full articleClassification:
1.4 Quality of life (Part of: 1 General aspects)
