Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) experience a deterioration of their central vision. Two thirds of AMD patients have problems with visuomotor and balance skills resulting in clumsiness and increased risk of falls.
A new study investigates the link between balance training and improved visual, vestibular and somatosensory functions involved in balance control. The investigation, published in the Journal of Vestibular Research, measured the impact of balance training on several visuomotor functions and reading speed.
Balance status statistics of 54 AMD patients were compared to 55 normal controls. Sixteen of these patients and 14 controls subsequently received balance training sessions on a postural platform. Researchers assessed postural sway, pointing accuracy, reading performance and, for the AMD patients, the effect of low vision training and balance training on the shift from several spontaneous Preferred Retinal Loci (PRLs) to one or more Trained Retinal Loci (TRL).
Even after a limited number of sessions of cross-modal balance training, the results show a significant improvement for the vestibular input and fixation stability, leading to the conclusion that more training sessions may help AMD patients gain more significant improvement of visuo-motor functions.
Read other studies on AMD prevention and treatment options
SOURCE: Balance training and visual rehabilitation of age-related macular degeneration patients, Radvay, et al, Journal of Vestibular Research, Volume 17, Number 4, 2007, pages 183 – 193.