Effect of Visual manipulation during walking training on functional balance and selected kinematic parameters of gait in older women

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of visual manipulation during walking training on functional balance and selected kinematic parameters of gait in the elderly. 16 accessible older women ranging in age from 65 to 75 were recruited and randomly assigned to a experimental (n: 8) and control (n: 8) groups. Experimental group trained walking while lower visual field was blocked for 12 weeks، 3 training sessions per week. Berg functional balance test was used for measuring subjects’ functional balance and Zebris gait analyzer was used for measuring kinematic gait parameters. We used the paired samples t test to compare the mean test scores before (pre-test) and after (post-test) intervention in each group. Independent t test was also used to evaluate the differences in means between experimental and control groups. A p-value of 0. 05 was considered for all statistical methods. Results showed a significant effect of walking training while lower visual field was blocked on stride length، gait velocity، percentage variability of velocity for experimental group (P<0. 05) and not statistical significant improvement on step width and double support percent (P>0. 05). Within group analysis showed that there were no significant differences between pretest and post test mean scores of measured gait parameters in control group (P>0. 05). Between group analysis showed that there were significant differences between posttest mean scores in two groups in stride length، gait velocity (P<0. 05). Also، between and within group significant difference was revealed for experimental group in functional balance (P<0. 05). We concluded walking training while lower visual field was blocked could improve some kinematic gait parameters related to walking balance in older women. Reduction in visual dependency، improvement of ability to use sensory substitution systems like somatosensory and vestibular systems can be probable causes of improvement in gait parameters.