Comparison of postural sway, plantar cutaneous sensation according to saccadic eye movement frequency in young adults

Abstract

The crossover trial study aimed to identify the saccadic eye movement (SEM) frequency to improve postural sway (PS) and plantar cutaneous sensation (PUS) in young adults. The 17 participants randomly performed 0.5-, 2-, and 3-Hz SEM. The SEM frequency was determined to allow the target to appear once per 2 s (0.5 Hz), twice per second (2 Hz), or thrice per second (3 Hz). SEM performance time was 3 min with a washout period of 5 min. PS and PUS were measured at baseline and during 0.5-Hz, 2-Hz, and 3-Hz SEMs using a Zebris FDM 1.5 force plate. PS was determined by measuring the sway area, path length, and speed of center of pressure (COP) displacement, and PUS was determined via the plantar surface area (PSA). In PS parameters, there was a significant difference among the SEM frequencies in the COPsway area PSAleft foot and PSAright foot. Compared to that at baseline, COPsway area decreased at 0.5 Hz and 2 Hz, while PSAleft foot and PSAright foot increased at 2 Hz. These results suggest that 2 Hz SEM may improve PS and PSA.