A Study on the Correlation between Visual Perception Ability and Balance Ability in the Health Elderly

노인의 시지각 능력과 균형능력과의 상관관계에 관한 연구

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the visual perception ability and the static dynamic balance ability in health elderly. Method: The Motor Free Visual Perception Test-Row Score(MVPT-RS) and MVPT-Process Time(MVPT-PT) were used for evaluating the visual perception abilities. Assessment of the balance ability was taken by using Good Balance System. In the assessment using Good Balance System, X, Y coordinate speed, anterior-posterior direction, medial-lateral direction and Velocity Movement(VM) in standing posture when eye open were measured as static balance abilities. Thirty-seven healthy elderly who live in Gwangyang participated in the experiment for 2 months, from October to November 2010. Results: 1. There were statistically significant differences of MVPT-RS, MVPT-PT, NSB-X, NSB-Y, NSB-VM, OLB-X, and OLB-VM based on the gender(p<0.05). 2. The negative correlations of MVPT-RS:NSB-Y(r=-0.354), MVPT-RS:OLB-X(r=-0.4), MVPT-RS: OLB-Y(r=-0.371), but positive correlations of MVPT-PT:DTB-T showed a statistical significance(r=0.45, p<0.05). 3. The positive correlations of NSB-X:NSB-Y(r=0.54), NSB-X: NSB-VM(r=0.848), NSB-Y:NSB-VM(r=0.531), OLB-X:OLB-Y(r=0.876), OLB-X:OLB-VM(r=0.872), and OLB-Y:OLB-VM(r=0.787) showed statistical significances(p<0.05). Conclusion: These results showed that the visual perception ability was correlated with some balance ability in health elderly. Especially the perception test process time(MVPT-PT) has closely related with the DTB-T. The visual perception ability is considered as a factor on the balance ability in health elderly. Further study will focus on the development of improving program of visual perception ability as an improving method of balancing ability in health elderly.