the effect of eliminating visual feedback on the balance recovery strategies in deaf individuals

If Several studies have been done on the role of vision and importance of visual information in the ability of postural control, but none of these reports have examined the role of visual information on balance recovery strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eliminating visual feedback on the balance recovery strategies in deaf individuals.

15 Deaf females (age 28.93±2.25 years, height 156.73±6.46 cm, and mean weight 58.06±7.91 kg) were selected as samples. Balance recovery strategies were recorded by six high-speed cameras after sudden movement of the treadmill. Paired-Sample T test was used for data analysis in open and closed eyes.

The results of this study showed that the mean of hip and ankle swings can be significantly increased by closing the eyes, both in the anterior-posterior and posterior-anterior disturbances (p<0.05). The results also showed that there is not a significant difference between the ratio of hip-to-ankle swings in open and closed eyes (p >0.05).

The findings of this study showed that remove of visual information leads to increase in hip and ankle swings, but there is no significant difference in the ratio of hip-to-ankle swings. Therefore, visual information does not seem to play an important role in choosing the balance recovery strategies in deaf people.