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

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.