Análise da confiabilidade da baropodometria na avaliação do equilíbrio de indivíduos com deficiência visual

Abstract

Visually impaired people can be susceptible to balance deficits, postural changes and low levels of quality of life. In view of this, specific approaches are needed for this population, and then some studies are developed during the master's degree. The first article was a pilot study with the objective of evaluating the balance, posture and quality of life of people with visual impairments. Eight visually impaired adults participated and evaluations were performed: postural, through biophotogametry, balance in baropodometry, in bipedal support (BS), right unipodal (RU), left unipodal (LU) and quality of life through the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instruments – Whoqol Bref questionnaire. It was observed that these individuals present anteriorization of the head, protrusion of shoulders, pelvic anteroversion, deficit of balance with greater oscillations of the center of pressure in the anteroposterior (AP) axis in relation to the laterolateral (LL) and low indices of quality of life in the domains of social relations and environment. A second article was developed, by the PROMOVER group, in the model of theoretical essay, addressing all 18 works already published by the group, concerning adaptations of scales, evaluation methods, validation of questionnaires and intervention proposals, involving children, adults and the elderly with visual impairment. A third article was developed with the objective of evaluating the balance, possible asymmetries of individuals with visual impairment, compare individuals with low vision and blindness and check if there is a correlation between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and baropodometry in the evaluation of the balance of this population. 33 people with visual impairment participated in this study, 20 with low vision and 13 with blindness. Participants were evaluated using BBS and baropodometry, in BS, RU and LU. Subsequently, the correlation between the evaluation methods was performed, according to the tasks of BS and unipodal support. There was no significant difference in the balance of individuals with low vision or blindness. The visually impaired had a low to moderate risk of falls in BBS and in the baropodometry data a greater oscillation of the AP pressure center was observed in relation to the LL. In the correlation between the variables of baropodometry and BBS, weak to moderate correlations were obtained between the variables in conditions of bipedal support. The fourth article was developed with the aim of analyzing the reliability of baropodometry in a balance assessment protocol for people with visual impairment.38 volunteers participated in the study, allocated in three groups: 13 in the control group (CG), composed of individuals without visual impairment, 15 in the low vision group (LVG), 10 in the blindness group (BG). The reliability of baropodometry has variability in its measurements, being more reliable in unipodal conditions. It was concluded that baropodometry presents itself as a reliable method, but care must be taken when choosing the position and the variable to be analyzed.