Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University, CA, USA
| [b] Department of Allied Health Studies, Loma Linda University, CA, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Eric G. Johnson, Department of Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University, 24951 North Circle Drive, Nichol Hall A-712, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA. Tel.: +1 909 558 4632/Ext. 47471; Fax: +1 909 558 0459; E-mail: ejohnson@llu.edu.
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
