Effect of visual input on postural stability in young adults with chronic motion sensitivity: A controlled cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chronic motion sensitivity (CMS) has been defined as a feeling of un-wellness elicited by either actual or perceived motion. CMS is a common condition and is more prevalent in females than in males. In addition to a variety of symptoms, young adults with CMS have less postural stability than those without CMS.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether dependence on visual cues for postural stability is different between young adults with and without CMS, and whether it differs by gender within each group.

METHODS:

Sixty young adults (30 females and 30 males) were assigned to one of two groups (CMS or non-CMS) using the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire-Short Form. Postural stability was measured for all participants using the Bertec Balance Advantage–Computerized Dynamic Posturography with Immersion Virtual Reality.

RESULTS:

A significant difference was found in mean postural stability scores during immersion virtual reality between the CMS and non-CMS groups (p < 0.001); however, no significant difference was shown in mean postural stability between males and females within the CMS and non-CMS groups (p = 0.10 and p = 0.97, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

The results suggest that young adults with CMS are over-reliant on visual cues for postural stability, and that visual dependence is not influenced by gender.

Keywords

Motion sensitivity vestibular system integrity visual input postural stability

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