Abstract
Background: Step symmetry is an important feature of human gait and is often regarded as a key index of healthy individuals' walking. This study evaluated the effects of height, white cane technique, and cane tip on symmetrical gait in blind individuals. Materials and methods: Twenty blind and ten sighted subjects, aged 15-38 years, participated in this study. The harmonic ratio (HR) and improved HR (iHR) were measured by trunk accelerometer as gait symmetry index in three axes: anteroposterior (AP), vertical, and mediolateral of the body. These parameters were measured in the sighted group in open-eye conditions and in the blind group in five experimental conditions with different two heights (standard and long), two tips (pencil and roller), and two techniques (two-point touch and constant contact) of white cane when they walked in the 6-m path. Results: There was a significant difference between HR and iHR of the blind and sighted group, which indicates a significant reduction of symmetry loss in the blind group. Among the five different conditions studied in the group of blind people, an increase was observed in the HR and the iHR on the AP axis during the application of a standard cane with a roller tip, which indicated an increase in symmetry. Conclusion: Based on the results, a long cane with a pencil tip and a standard cane with a roller tip in the constant contact technique can increase step symmetry.
Keywords
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.4103/ojo.ojo_359_22
- Journal
- Oman Journal of Ophthalmology, 16(2), 298-304
- Publisher
- Medknow Publications
- Open access
- Gold open access
Cite this article
APA 7
Kahaki, Z. R., Razeghi, M., Karimi, M. T., Sanjari, M. A., Safarpour, A. R., & Choobineh, A. (2023). Assessment of the effects of white cane variables on step symmetry of blind individuals. Oman Journal of Ophthalmology, 16(2), 298-304. https://doi.org/10.4103/ojo.ojo_359_22
MLA 9
Kahaki, Zeinab Rasouli, et al. "Assessment of the effects of white cane variables on step symmetry of blind individuals." Oman Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 16, no. 2, 2023, pp. 298-304. https://doi.org/10.4103/ojo.ojo_359_22.
Chicago (author–date)
Kahaki, Zeinab Rasouli, Mohsen Razeghi, Mohammad Taghi Karimi, Mohammad Ali Sanjari, Ali Reza Safarpour, and Alireza Choobineh. 2023. "Assessment of the effects of white cane variables on step symmetry of blind individuals." Oman Journal of Ophthalmology 16 (2): 298-304. https://doi.org/10.4103/ojo.ojo_359_22.
Harvard
Kahaki, Z. R., Razeghi, M., Karimi, M. T., Sanjari, M. A., Safarpour, A. R. and Choobineh, A. (2023) 'Assessment of the effects of white cane variables on step symmetry of blind individuals', Oman Journal of Ophthalmology, 16(2), pp. 298-304. doi:10.4103/ojo.ojo_359_22.
Vancouver
Kahaki ZR, Razeghi M, Karimi MT, Sanjari MA, Safarpour AR, Choobineh A. Assessment of the effects of white cane variables on step symmetry of blind individuals. Oman Journal of Ophthalmology. 2023;16(2):298-304. doi:10.4103/ojo.ojo_359_22
IEEE
Z. R. Kahaki, M. Razeghi, M. T. Karimi, M. A. Sanjari, A. R. Safarpour, and A. Choobineh, "Assessment of the effects of white cane variables on step symmetry of blind individuals," Oman Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 298-304, 2023, doi: 10.4103/ojo.ojo_359_22.