Article

Research investigating how vision affects adaptive gait typically tests
participants whilst wearing their own spectacles or whilst wearing trial case
lenses mounted in a trial frame. Trial frames are temporary frames allowing
different lenses to be inserted, permitting different visual conditions to be
simulated. Trial frames occlude part of the wearer's peripheral visual field. The
current study investigated how use of trial frames affects adaptive gait.
METHODS: Fifteen participants (age 25 +/- 5 years) with normal uncorrected vision
negotiated a single floor based obstacle habitually (not wearing a trial frame)
or wearing trial frames which occluded part of the lower visual field (half-eye)
or circumferential peripheral visual field (full aperture). No lenses were used
in the trial frames. Analysis assessed visual field occlusion and the kinematics
of obstacle crossing. RESULTS: Visual field was reduced wearing either trial
frame. Compared to the habitual condition, participants wearing either type of
trial frame lifted their foot significantly higher over the obstacle and
increased the time taken to step over the obstacle; a result of uncertainty
regarding the precise location (height) of the obstacle due to the occlusion of
visual information from the inferior visual field. There were no differences in
obstacle crossing between trial frame conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Wearing either
full or half eye trial frames can in itself influence adaptive gait. Whilst
consideration needs to be given to the visual correction that participants wear
during gait research, the method of mounting these lenses also requires
consideration.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS