The effect of static and dynamic balance training on balance in children with congenital blindness

Year 2019, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 89 - 94, 27.03.2019

Bilge Başakcı Çalık Ummuhan Bas Aslan Şehmus Aslan Elif Gür Kabul

https://doi.org/10.16899/gopctd.461566

Abstract

Aim:
Visual information is very important in predicting the speed of body segments
and objects and providing balance, as well as in the timing of psychomotor
responses. The maintenance of posture and balance is negatively affected by
partial or total loss of vision. The purpose of this study was to examine the
effectiveness of static and dynamic balance training on balance in children
with congenital blindness.

Materials and methods: The study included 18 congenitally
blind children, comprising 9 males and 9 females with a mean age of 10.94 ±
1.89 years. All participants were attending a special primary/secondary school
for the blind. Balance functions were evaluated at baseline and at the end of
the training program using the  Balance
Subtests of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency
Test Short Form (BOT-2, SF), Timed Up and Go Test, the Functional Reach Test and
the One Legged Stance Test. The training program of static and dynamic balance exercises
was applied twice weekly for 8 weeks.

Results:
A significant improvement
was determined in all the balance tests after the training program (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

The results of this study
demonstrated that balance-specific static and dynamic exercises contribute to
improvements in the balance of children with congenital blindness. Therefore,
balance exercises should be to rehabilitation programs to improve the balance
of children with congenital blindness

Keywords

Congenital blindness, children, exercise

References

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