Evidence for your practice: Occupation-based postural stability training

 

The effect of occupation-based postural stability training on postural stability and occupational performance in visually impaired individuals: a randomized controlled trial

Article: Özkan, E., & Akı, E. (2021). The effect of occupation-based postural stability training on postural stability and occupational performance in visually impaired individuals: A controlled trial. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 0308022620988468.

Study purpose: To examine the effect of occupation-based postural stability training on occupational performance and postural stability in visually impaired individuals.

Rationale: There is a significant relationship between visual function and mobility performance in individuals with vision loss. It’s been found that visually impaired adults have significantly lower participation in daily activities and fewer social roles than their peers who are not visually impaired.

Methods: Postural stability was evaluated by the Biodex Balance System. This system was then used to provide 12 weeks of standard postural stability training to the control group. The training exercises targeted weight transfers, stability limit, medio-lateral and antero-posterior directional movements and overall stability. In the study group, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used to determine the occupational performance issues and the change in performance and satisfaction with these occupations. For the study group, a 12 week person-centered and occupation based postural stability training program was then created based on their individual interests and needs according to the assessment and information obtained from the COPM. 

Results: In addition to a significant difference in stability values between pre- and post-training measurements, the study group also showed a significant increase in the occupational performance and satisfaction compared to the control group. 

One participant reflected on how the occupation-based, person centered training program benefitted their occupational performance and family roles:

"I feel that my family’s trust in me has increased since the day we started working. They always said they trusted me, but that didn’t make sense to me; they didn’t let me go out on my own. Now I go to the market alone and get what I want and return home. It is a big change in my 20-year life." (Participant 3, study group)

Conclusion: Adding person-centered, meaningful and purposeful occupations into rehabilitation programs that use technological stability training increases functionality in activities of daily living.

Implications for OT: In the development of dynamic postural stability in visually impaired individuals, it is thought that it would be beneficial to apply person-centered occupation-based postural stability training. Occupation-based training was effective in improving visually impaired individuals’ occupational performance and satisfaction. 

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