RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05888441

Obstacle Negotiation in Older People With and Without Vision Impairment

Impact of Stepping Over Obstacles of Different Contrast and Height on Gait and Eye Movements in Older Adults With and Without Vision Impairment

Sponsor

Indiana University

Enrollment

200 participants

Start Date

Apr 14, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Low vision

Summary

Falls are common among people with vision impairment and can lead to devastating health consequences. Understanding the functions of vision and how the visual characteristics of obstacles in the walking path impact the gait of people with vision impairment is necessary to create strategies to prevent falls in this population. The purpose of this study is to determine how adults with vision impairment change their gait behavior when stepping over obstacles that vary in height and contrast to the ground. We will then determine the mechanisms of gaze behavior that correlate to the gait behavior.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Inclusion Criteria5

Age 18 or over
Able to walk independently
Either have normal vision, or impaired vision.
Impaired vision is defined as binocular visual acuity of 20/25 or worse with or without a central scotoma; and/or binocular visual field that is restricted to an average of 100 degrees in diameter or less
Control subjects will have visual acuity of 20/40 or better.

Exclusion Criteria7

Not cleared by a medical provider for moderate physical activity
Self-report or have a history of: vestibular disorder or deafness
Medical history of any condition that affects the ability to walk for up to 2 hours with breaks, such as feeling dizzy or faint, chest pain, palpitations, pain or numbness in the legs, shortness of breath,
Cognitive limitations either by self-report or a score on the Mini Mental State Exam below 24 (out of 30)
Walking or gait abnormalities, such as those caused from an injury, surgery, severe arthritis, or neurological condition such as Parkinson's disease
Unable to walk without any walking aids such as a walker, cane, guide dog, or oxygen tank.
Does not speak English

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Interventions

OTHERObstacle characteristics

In the walking trials, when an obstacle is present, the obstacle height and obstacle contrast level will be varied across the trial repetitions. Each participant will be exposed to obstacles of two heights: the first will be 1 centimeter in height, and the second will be approximately 20% of the subject's leg length (ranging in physical height between 15 - 22 centimeters to cover a range of leg lengths in the population). Obstacles (of both heights) will also be painted such that their measured luminance (or contrast) level against the floor luminance is varied. High contrast obstacles will have ≥80% Michelson contrast and low contrast obstacles will have ≤30% Michelson contrast.