Reliance on vision for walking balance is related to somatosensory deficits in individuals with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the relationship between somatosensory deficits, specifically ankle and hip joint position sense, two-point discrimination, and vibration on the (1) responses to visual perturbations during walking and (2) response improvements to visual perturbations while receiving a sensory-centric treatment, i.e., stochastic resonance (SR) stimulation, in individuals with and without cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Twenty-eight individuals (14 CP, 14 age-and sex-matched controls) walked in a virtual reality cave while receiving visual perturbations. We applied SR to the ankle and hip joints. Data analysis consisted of bivariate correlations, and multiple regression analysis (MRA) using all four sensory tests as predictors with the responses to visual perturbation and the improvements in the responses when SR is applied as outcomes. Results: We found significant and strong correlations between performance on sensory tests and the responses to visual perturbations, and improvements in the responses with SR. Only one predictor could be entered into the MRA, indicating that performance on any of the sensory tests could predict the responses to visual perturbation and the improvements with SR. Interpretation: Individuals with sensory deficits are more responsive to sensory-centric interventions. This study is an initial step in identifying potential responders to sensory therapies in individuals with CP.