Does the Level of Difficulty in Balancing Tasks Affect Haptic Sensitivity Via Light Touch?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the contribution of bimanual light touch varies according to the difficulty level of postural tasks (e.g., vision occlusion, height of support surface). Fourteen healthy young adults each were asked to stand in a tandem position, on a 20-cm height balance beam. Postural tasks included light touch and no touch conditions in two vision conditions, nonvision and full vision. The root mean square of amplitude of oscillation (mediolateral), mean velocity, ellipse area, and path length of the center of pressure revealed that touch conditions reduced sway to a greater extent in the elevated support surface, nonvision condition. Highly unstable balance tasks increase the optimization of light touch and affect the attenuation of postural sway.

Additional Haptic Information Provided by Anchors Reduces Postural Sway in Young Adults Less Than Does Light Touch.

This study investigated the effect of adding haptic information to the control of posture, as well as comparing the effect of both the "light touch" (LT) and "anchor system" (AS) paradigms on postural sway. Additionally, it compared the effect of location and number of points of contact to the control of posture in young adults. The location consisted of using the anchors tied to the finger and held by the hands, and, for LT, the fingertip. For the number of points of contact, participants used two hands, and then separately the dominant hand, and the non-dominant hand, for both anchor and LT paradigms. Participants stood upright with feet-together and in tandem position while performing tasks that combined the use of anchors and LT, points of contact (hand grip and finger), and number of points of contact (two hands and one hand). In this study, the anchors consist of holding in each hand a flexible cable with the other end attached to the ground. The LT consists of slightly touching a rigid surface with the tip of the index finger. The results showed, first, that the anchors improved postural control less than did the LT. Second, they revealed that holding the anchors with the hands or with them tied to the fingertip resulted in a similar reduction in postural sway only in the tandem position. For the feet-together position, the anchors tied to the fingertip were ineffective. Similarly, the use of one or two hands did not affect the contribution of the anchors. However, using two hands in the LT condition was more effective than was one hand. Third, our results showed the presence of a temporal delay between force and center-of-pressure (COP) for the anchors, only in the AP direction with feet-together. In conclusion, overall, the anchors were less effective in reducing postural sway than was the LT. The anchors attached to fingertips were as effective as the hand-held anchors in the tandem position, yet ineffective during foot-together standing. Force-COP timing explains reduced postural sway with LT but not for the anchor; hence, exploratory and supra-postural components may be involved.

Task difficulty has no effect on haptic anchoring during tandem walking in young and older adults.

This study assessed the contribution of the "anchor system's" haptic information to balance control during walking at two levels of difficulty. Seventeen young adults and seventeen older adults performed 20 randomized trials of tandem walking in a straight line, on level ground and on a slightly-raised balance beam, both with and without the use of the anchors. The anchor consists of two flexible cables, whose ends participants hold in each hand, to which weights (125 g) are attached at the opposing ends, and which rest on the ground. As the participants walk, they pull on the cables, dragging the anchors. Spatiotemporal gait variables (step speed and single- and double-support duration) were processed using retro-reflective markers on anatomical sites. An accelerometer positioned in the cervical region registered trunk acceleration. Walking on the balance beam increased single- and double-support duration and reduced step speed in older adults, which suggests that this condition was more difficult than walking on the level ground. The anchors reduced trunk acceleration in the frontal plane, but the level of difficulty of the walking task showed no effect. Thus, varying the difficulty of the task had no influence on the way in which participants used the anchor system while tandem walking. The older adults exhibited more difficulty in walking on the balance beam as compared to the younger adults; however, the effect of the anchor system was similar in both groups.

Effects of physical exercise for adults with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review / Efeitos do exercício físico para adultos com deficiência intelectual: uma revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT The literature presents the benefits of physical activity programs for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), but aspects such as those related to physical exercise prescription, benefits of the type of exercise program, the most recommended exercises, load control, and limitations of the interventions for adults with ID are subjects awaiting scientific research. The aim of this study was to verify, through a systematic review, the effects of physical activity programs for adults with ID. The procedure included an electronic search of the literature published from January 1960 to August 2014, considering terms related to physical activity, ID, and physical activity programs. Eight manuscripts met the eligibility criteria and were included in the study. Based on the systematic review, we found a limited number of studies that investigated, in a structured way, the effect of physical activity programs for adults with ID. In general, the systematized programs of physical exercise promoted consistent and significant benefits for adults with ID. However, there seems to be no consensus on the type of intervention to be used to promote the practice of physical activity in adults with ID. In addition, the methodological quality of the studies appears to be limited. We conclude that intervention studies with physical activity in adults with ID that involve aerobic exercise, sports specialization, and a combination of muscular and aerobic exercise performed two or three times a week for more than 40 minutes seem to be the most highly recommended for adults with ID.

RESUMO Apesar da literatura apresentar os benefícios de programas de atividade física para a pessoa com deficiência intelectual (DI), aspectos como os relacionados à prescrição de exercício físico, benefícios de cada tipo de programa de exercício físico, exercícios mais recomendados, controle de carga, limitações das intervenções para adultos com DI são assuntos em espera de investigação científica. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar, por meio de uma revisão sistemática, quais os efeitos de programas de atividade física para adultos com DI. O procedimento incluiu uma busca eletrônica da literatura publicada de janeiro de 1960 até agosto de 2014, considerando termos relacionados à atividade física, DI e programa de atividade física. Oito manuscritos preencheram os critérios da elegibilidade e foram incluídos no estudo. Com base na revisão sistemática, foi encontrado um limitado número de estudos que investigou, de forma estruturada, o efeito de programas de atividade física para adultos com DI. De forma geral, os programas sistematizados de exercício físico promoveram benefícios consistentes e significantes para adultos com DI. Entretanto, parece não haver um consenso do tipo de intervenção a ser utilizada para promover a prática de atividade física de adultos com DI. Além disso, a qualidade metodológica dos estudos parece ser limitada. Concluímos que estudos de intervenção com atividade física em adultos com DI que envolvem exercícios aeróbios, especialização esportiva e combinação de exercício de força muscular e aeróbio realizadas duas ou três vezes por semana por mais de 40 minutos parecem ser os mais recomendados para adultos com DI.

The global reality of the Paralympic Movement: Challenges and opportunities in disability sports

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to briefly illustrate some of the challenges and realities of national and international Paralympic sports. The elite disabled athlete paradigm is still not widely known in the world of regular sports competitions. The winning elite disabled athletes are restricted to a few countries, including the U.S., Canada, Germany, China, and Australia, with limited distribution of disability sport opportunities in other countries. This tendency for the success of a minority of countries reflects global problems of social vulnerability in accessibility (e.g., in dismantling the stigma of disability), political vulnerability (e.g., representative organizations of sports for the disabled do not fully pratice the philosophy of "sport for all"), and economic vulnerability (e.g., lack of opportunities for training, assistive sports technology, and sponsorships). Furthermore, elite Paralympic athletes have become veterans. For example, the participation of Brazilian elite athletes in the 1984 Paralympics marked the beginning of a new generation of athletes (approximately 16%) who returned to the Games in 1988. In both 2008 and 2012, nearly 28% of total participants were Brazilian veterans. Although this picture reveals longevity of athletes in the sport, there are many limitations in sports accessibility, often due to geographical centralization of opportunities in large urban centers. Yet, today, the world of Paralympic sport has been transformed into a sports spectacle, thanks to the exceptional performance of some athletes, to the technology of mass communication, and to the support of audiences during the Games. These sport "superstars" offer the world new images and new constructs of "ability." While this forum has helped to bring attention to these "heroes," other Brazilian athletes (and from other countries as well) are still waiting for their opportunities. Indeed, worldwide, young blind individuals, those in wheelchairs, amputees, or simply the uncoordinated, expect to play, run, swim, and take part in the international model of "sport for all." They expect sports opportunities to be a part of their daily lives, an option for rehabilitation and the preservation of health, and a basic human right

Haptic information provided by the "anchor system" reduces trunk sway acceleration in the frontal plane during tandem walking in older adults.

This study assessed whether the use of an "anchor system" benefited older adults who performed a tandem walking task. Additionally, we tested the effects of practice with the anchor system during walking on trunk stability, in the frontal plane, of older adults. Forty-four older adults were randomly assigned to three groups: control group, 0g anchor group, and 125g anchor group. Individuals in each group performed a tandem walking task on the GaitRite system with an accelerometer placed on the cervical region. The participants in the 125g anchor group held, in each hand, a flexible cable with a light mass attached at the end of the cable, which rested on the ground. While the participants walked, they pulled on the cables just enough to keep them taut as the masses slid over the ground. The 0g anchor group held an anchor tool without any mass attached to the end portion. The results of this study demonstrated that the use of the anchor system contributed to the reduction of trunk acceleration in the frontal plane. However, this effect did not persist after removal of the anchors, which suggests that the amount of practice with this tool was insufficient to generate any lasting effect, or that the task was not sufficiently challenging, or both.

Uso do sistema âncora nas duas mãos e na mão não dominante reduz a oscilação corporal em idosos / Use of the anchor system with both hands, and with the non-dominant hand reduces body oscillation in older adults

O propósito do presente estudo foi comparar o efeito do uso do sistema âncora bilateralmente e unilateralmente (mão dominante e mão não dominante) em idosos em duas condições visuais (com e sem visão disponível). Para tanto, 14 idosos ficaram na posição semi tandem sobre uma plataforma de força. Eles realizaram oito condições experimentais combinando o uso do sistema âncora (duas mãos, mão dominante, mão não dominante e sem âncora) e a disponibilidade de visão (com e sem). Os resultados da área da elipse ajustada ao deslocamento do centro de pressão (CP) e da velocidade média de oscilação do CP mostraram que as condições realizadas com a âncora nas duas mãos e com a âncora na mão não dominante reduziram a oscilação corporal e a velocidade de oscilação em comparação à condição sem âncora. Além disso, a presença de visão também reduziu a área da elipse e a velocidade média de oscilação. No geral, portanto, o sistema âncora se mostrou um instrumento eficaz que permitiu aos participantes idosos diminuírem a oscilação corporal, favorecendo a melhora do equilíbrio. Apesar disso, o efeito da adição de informação háptica foi similar nas diferentes condições visuais testadas, sugerindo que a informação háptica adicional fornecida por meio do sistema âncora tem um peso constante e, portanto, não varia em função das alterações da disponibilidade de visão. Além disso, esses resultados contradizem estudos anteriores que utilizaram o paradigma do toque leve. Diferenças entre os paradigmas do toque leve e do sistema âncora e assimetrias inter-hemisféricas em tarefas de percepção háptica foram usados para explicar essas contradições.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of using the anchor system bilaterally and unilaterally (dominant and non-dominant hands), in older adults, in two visual conditions (with and without vision). Fourteen older adults were positioned in a semi-tandem position on a force plate, where they performed tasks under eight experimental conditions that employed the anchor system (two-handed, dominant hand, non-dominant hand, and without anchor), both with and without vision. The results, illustrated through the ellipse area adjusted to the displacement of the center of pressure (COP) and the mean sway velocity of the COP, showed that tasks performed with the anchor system held by both hands, and the anchor system held by the non-dominant hand, reduced both body sway and velocity when compared to the condition without the anchor. Furthermore, the task conditions with vision also reduced the ellipse area and the mean sway velocity. Overall, the anchor system is a tool that effectively allowed the older adults to decrease body sway. The effect of adding haptic information was similar throughout the different visual conditions tested, suggesting that the additional haptic information provided by the anchor system had a constant impact and did not vary with changes in the availability of vision. These results add new insights to the field of haptics when compared to findings of previous studies that use the light touch paradigm. Differences between the paradigms of light touch and the anchor system-and inter-hemispheric asymmetries in haptic perception tasks-were used to explain these insights.

Estabilidade locomotora durante a condução de um cão / Locomotion stability while dog walking / La estabilidad locomotora durante la conducción de un perro

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da percepção háptica na estabilidade locomotora do ser humano durante a condução de um cão com uma guia. Adultos (n=14), com e sem restrição da visão, andaram sobre uma trave de equilíbrio sozinhos, ou, com uma guia, andaram conduzindo um cão sobre um banco estreito ao lado. Quando os participantes caminharam conduzindo o cão, privados da visão, o desempenho locomotor-avaliado através da duração do deslocamento total, da duração das passadas, das fases de duplo suporte e balanço, do comprimento e velocidade das passadas, assim como da variabilidade da fase relativa-melhorou significativamente (p < 0,05) em relação ao desempenho locomotor na condição sem o cão. Nas condições com visão, conduzir o cão não resultou em mudanças nestas variáveis. Concluímos que estes indivíduos foram capazes de utilizar a guia do cão para detectar propriedades hápticas com propósito de melhorar a estabilidade na locomoção.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how walking a dog on a leash influenced haptic perception and stability during human locomotion. Fourteen adults, with and without sight restriction, walked on a narrow balance beam by themselves, or holding a leash attached to a dog that walked on a parallel narrow bench. The performance of participants who walked with the dog, but blindfolded, significantly (p < 0.05) improved as compared to the condition without the dog. Their locomotion performance was assessed via the duration of the total displacement on the balance beam, durations of the double support phase, swing phase, stepping cycle, stepping length, and linear velocity, as well as variability of the inter-limb relative phase. With vision, these parameters were not affected by the presence of the dog. We conclude that these adults were able to use the dog's leash to detect haptic properties in order to achieve postural control (e.g., stability in speed performance) while walking.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia de la percepción háptica en la estabilidad del aparato locomotor humano, mientras que la conducción de un perro con una guía. Los adultos (n = 14), con y sin restricción de la visión, caminaron sobre una barra de equilibrio solo, o simultáneamente con el perro en la guia en un banco al lado. Cuando participantes caminaron con el perro, privados de vista, el rendimiento locomotor-evaluado por la longitud total de desplazamiento, la longitud de los pasos, las fases de doble apoyo e impulsión, la longitud y la velocidad del pasado, así como la variabilidad de la fase relativa-mejoró significativamente (p < 0.05) en comparación con el rendimiento locomotor en la condición sin el perro. En las condiciones con la visión, impulsar el perro no dio lugar a cambios en estas variables. Llegamos a la conclusión de que estos individuos fueron capaces de utilizar la guía del perro para detectar propiedades hápticas con el propósito de mejorar la estabilidad en la locomoción.

Intermittent use of an "anchor system" improves postural control in healthy older adults.

Haptic information, provided by a non-rigid tool (i.e., an "anchor system"), can reduce body sway in individuals who perform a standing postural task. However, it was not known whether or not continuous use of the anchor system would improve postural control after its removal. Additionally, it was unclear as to whether or not frequency of use of the anchor system is related to improved control in older adults. The present study evaluated the effect of the prolonged use of the anchor system on postural control in healthy older individuals, at different frequencies of use, while they performed a postural control task (semi-tandem position). Participants were divided into three groups according to the frequency of the anchor system's use (0%, 50%, and 100%). Pre-practice phase (without anchor) was followed by a practice phase (they used the anchor system at the predefined frequency), and a post-practice phase (immediate and late-without anchor). All three groups showed a persistent effect 15min after the end of the practice phase (immediate post-practice phase). However, only the 50% group showed a persistent effect in the late post-practice phase (24h after finishing the practice phase). Older adults can improve their postural control by practicing the standing postural task, and use of the anchor system limited to half of their practice time can provide additional improvement in their postural control.

Perseveration in congenitally blind children: effects of luminous and acoustic targets on a modified A-not-B task.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not blind children perseverate during a modified Piagetian A-not-B reaching task, with conditions that employ luminous AB targets and acoustic AB targets. Ten congenitally blind children, ages 1-4 years, with residual vision for light, took part in this study. Behavioral and kinematic data were computed for participants' reaches, performed in six A trials and in two B trials, in both stimulus conditions. All of the children perseverated in the luminous condition, and none of them perseverated in the condition using acoustic targets. The children tilted their heads in the direction of the target as they reached towards it. However, this coupling action (head-reaching) occurred predominantly in the A trials in the acoustic condition. In the luminous condition, in contrast to the acoustic condition, the children took longer times to initiate the reaching movement. Also, in the luminous condition, the children explored the target surroundings, unlike the acoustic condition, in which they reached straight ahead. For these blind children, sound was more relevant to reaching than was the luminous stimulus. The luminous input caused perseveration in congenitally blind children in a similar way that has been reported in the literature for typically-developing, sighted infants, ages 8-12 months, performing A-not-B tasks with visual inputs.

Short-term effects of the use of non-rigid tools for postural control by adults with intellectual disabilities.

We tested the short-term effects of a nonrigid tool, identified as an "anchor system" (e.g., ropes attached to varying weights resting on the floor), on the postural stabilization of blindfolded adults with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). Participants held a pair of anchors-one in each hand, under three weight conditions (250 g, 500 g and 1,000 g), while they performed a restricted balance task (standing for 30 s on a balance beam placed on top of a force platform). These conditions were called anchor practice trials. Before and after the practice trials, a condition without anchors was tested. Control practice groups, who practiced blocks of trials without anchors, included individuals with and without ID. The anchor system improved subjects' balance during the standing task, for both groups. For the control groups, the performance of successive trials in the condition without the anchor system showed no improvement in postural stability. The individuals with intellectual disability, as well as their peers without ID, used the haptic cues of nonrigid tools (i.e., the anchor system) to stabilize their posture, and the short-term stabilizing effects appeared to result from their previous use of the anchor system.

Efeitos do sistema âncora sobre o controle postural de idosos / Effects of the anchor system on postural control in older adults

O número de quedas durante o envelhecimento é alto e suas consequências podem ser drásticas. Neste contexto, a manutenção da capacidade de equilíbrio exerce papel fundamental para que o idoso tenha possibilidade de realizar suas atividades cotidianas. Por conseguinte, a utilização de ferramentas de intervenção e de tratamento para o desenvolvimento do equilíbrio torna-se essencial. Neste estudo, foi analisado o sistema âncora como possível ferramenta, em potencial, para diminuir a oscilação corporal em idosos e adultos jovens. Os idosos apresentaram maior oscilação corporal que os adultos jovens. A ausência da informação visual provocou maior instabilidade postural para ambos os grupos. O sistema âncora demonstrou proporcionar maior estabilização no controle da postura. Deste modo, o sistema âncora pode ser uma ferramenta útil para o auxílio na estabilização da postura.

Falls are common during aging, and can have drastic consequences. Within this context, maintaining the ability to balance plays an essential role in enabling older adults to continue to perform their daily activities. Therefore, the use of interventional and treatment tools for development of balance becomes essential. The objective of this study was to analyze the anchor system as a potential tool for decreasing body sway in older and young adults. Older adults had more postural sway than their young counterparts. The absence of visual information led to larger instability in both groups. The anchor system improved postural stability of both groups. Thus, it may be a useful tool for posture stabilization in old and young adults.

Haptic stabilization of posture in adults with intellectual disabilities using a nonrigid tool.

This study assessed the effects of haptic information on the postural control systems of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), through the use of a nonrigid tool that we call the "anchor system" (e.g., ropes attached to graduated weights that rest on the floor). Eleven participants with ID were asked to stand, blindfolded, on a balance beam placed at two heights (10 and 20 cm), for 30 s, while using the anchor system at two weights. The lighter anchor weight appeared to improve the individuals' balance in contrast to a control task condition; therefore, we concluded that haptic sensitivity was more significant in helping to orient the body than was the anchor's mechanical support alone.

Relação entre percepção e ação durante os movimentos de sentar e levantar em indivíduos idosos / The relation between perception and action during the stand-to-sit and sit-to-stand movements in elderly individuals

A proposta deste estudo foi analisar o efeito do envelhecimento nos aspectos perceptivos e motores envolvidos com as ações de sentar e levantar de uma cadeira. Indivíduos jovens e idosos foram filmados enquanto sentavam/levantavam de uma cadeira em sete alturas diferentes do assento. Eles julgaram a dificuldade/facilidade encontrada para sentar e levantar em cada altura do assento. Os idosos exibiram mudanças na estratégia de controle usada para sentar na altura mais baixa do assento e superestimaram o nível de dificuldade/facilidade para realizar as tarefas de sentar e levantar. Em síntese, a percepção de execução fácil da tarefa de sentar pelos idosos não concorda com o grau de dificuldade exibido no desempenho motor na altura mais baixa do assento.

The purpose of this study was to analyze aging effects on the perceptual and motor aspects involved in the sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit actions. Young and older individuals were videotaped while performing those actions on a chair adjusted with seven seat heights. Participants estimated, for each seat height, the difficulty/facility perceived while performing the sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit actions. Older individuals exhibited changes in the control strategy used for sitting at the lowest seat height, and overestimated the degree of difficulty/facility involved in performing both actions. In general, the degree of easiness perceived by older individuals at the lowest seat height disagrees with the degree of difficulty exhibited during the motor performance of this task.

Relação entre percepção e ação durante os movimentos de sentar e levantar em indivíduos idosos / The relation between perception and action during the stand-to-sit and sit-to-stand movements in elderly individuals

A proposta deste estudo foi analisar o efeito do envelhecimento nos aspectos perceptivos e motores envolvidos com as ações de sentar e levantar de uma cadeira. Indivíduos jovens e idosos foram filmados enquanto sentavam/levantavam de uma cadeira em sete alturas diferentes do assento. Eles julgaram a dificuldade/facilidade encontrada para sentar e levantar em cada altura do assento. Os idosos exibiram mudanças na estratégia de controle usada para sentar na altura mais baixa do assento e superestimaram o nível de dificuldade/facilidade para realizar as tarefas de sentar e levantar. Em síntese, a percepção de execução fácil da tarefa de sentar pelos idosos não concorda com o grau de dificuldade exibido no desempenho motor na altura mais baixa do assento.(AU)

The purpose of this study was to analyze aging effects on the perceptual and motor aspects involved in the sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit actions. Young and older individuals were videotaped while performing those actions on a chair adjusted with seven seat heights. Participants estimated, for each seat height, the difficulty/facility perceived while performing the sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit actions. Older individuals exhibited changes in the control strategy used for sitting at the lowest seat height, and overestimated the degree of difficulty/facility involved in performing both actions. In general, the degree of easiness perceived by older individuals at the lowest seat height disagrees with the degree of difficulty exhibited during the motor performance of this task.(AU)

Motor perseveration during an "A not B" task in children with intellectual disabilities.

This study was designed to identify perseverative reaching tendencies in children with intellectual disabilities (ID), over a period of 1 year, by using a version of the Piagetian "A not B" task modified by Smith, Thelen, Titzer, and McLin (1999). Nine children (4.8 years old at the beginning of the study) with intellectual disabilities (ID) (eight with mild ID; one with moderate ID) were assessed every 3 months for approximately 1 year, totaling four assessments. The results indicate that in a majority of the cases perseveration was resilient, and that the visual system decoupled from the reaching, especially towards the later assessment periods at the end of the year. Across assessment periods variability seemed to increase in each trial (A1 through B2) for reached target. These individuals, vulnerable to distraction and attention and to short-term memory deficits, are easily locked into rigid modes of motor habits. They are susceptible to perseveration while performing simple task contexts that are typically designed for 10- to 12-month-old, normally-developing infants, therefore creating strong confinements to stable, rigid modes of elementary forms of behavior.

Developing an "anchor" system to enhance postural control.

This article uses an anchor metaphor to explain the dynamic interplay between the human body's active uses of nonrigid tools to mediate information about its adjacent environment to enhance postural control. The author used an "anchor" system (ropes attached to varying weights resting on the floor) to test blindfolded adults who performed a restricted-balance task (30 s one-foot standing). Participants were tested while holding the anchors under a variety of weight conditions (125 g, 250 g, 500 g, and 1 kg) and again during a baseline condition (no anchors). When compared with the baseline condition, there was a significant reduction in the amount of body sway across the anchor conditions. The author found that mechanical support provided by the anchor system was secondary to its haptic exploratory function and that an individual can use the anchoring strategy with a dual purpose: for resting and for reorientation after intrinsic disruptions.

Orientação espacial em adultos com deficiência visual: efeitos de um treinamento de navegação / Effects of navigation training on orientation tasks by blind adults

O objetivo deste estudo foi demonstrar se um programa de navegação pode ajudar indivíduos com deficiência visual a melhorar a acurácia na orientação dinâmica. Nove participantes com deficiência visual retornaram a um ponto de partida após percorrer rotas em linha reta e triangular. Pré e pós-avaliações foram feitas entre um período de 4 meses, durante o qual o treinamento com navegação foi realizado. Entre pré e pós-teste, erros relativos de desvios angulares (ERDA) foram diferentes apenas na tarefa em linha reta. O valor de ERDA foi maior na tarefa em linha reta possivelmente por causa da magnitude do giro inicial antes de retornar ao ponto de partida (i.e., 180º) em contraste com a tarefa triângulo (i.e., 45º). Conclui-se que, em tarefas de orientação, os erros no desvio angular dependem da amplitude do giro inicial ao retornar para o ponto de partida. Ainda, a acurácia na manutenção da direção é influenciada por um treinamento específico com navegação (AU)

Orientação espacial em adultos com deficiência visual: efeitos de um treinamento de navegação / Effects of navigation training on orientation tasks by blind adults

O objetivo deste estudo foi demonstrar se um programa de navegação pode ajudar indivíduos com deficiência visual a melhorar a acurácia na orientação dinâmica. Nove participantes com deficiência visual retornaram a um ponto de partida após percorrer rotas em linha reta e triangular. Pré e pós-avaliações foram feitas entre um período de 4 meses, durante o qual o treinamento com navegação foi realizado. Entre pré e pós-teste, erros relativos de desvios angulares (ERDA) foram diferentes apenas na tarefa em linha reta. O valor de ERDA foi maior na tarefa em linha reta possivelmente por causa da magnitude do giro inicial antes de retornar ao ponto de partida (i.e., 180°) em contraste com a tarefa triângulo (i.e., 45°). Conclui-se que, em tarefas de orientação, os erros no desvio angular dependem da amplitude do giro inicial ao retornar para o ponto de partida. Ainda, a acurácia na manutenção da direção é influenciada por um treinamento específico com navegação.