title: Importance of Proprioceptive Information for Postural Control in Children with Strabismus before and after Strabismus Surgery.
abstract: The objective of this study is to examine the role of proprioception in postural balance in children with strabismus before and after realignment of their visual axes by eye surgery. Postural recordings were made with the TechnoConcept® force platform in 23 children. Several conditions were studied, whether the subjects had both eyes open, or either the dominant or the non-dominant eye open, without and with foam pads of 4 mm underfoot. Recordings were performed before and after strabismus surgery. The surface area, the length and the mean speed of the center of pressure (CoP) were analyzed. Before strabismus surgery, all children showed better stability with both eyes open with respect to the condition with the non-dominant eye open; furthermore postural stability improved in the presence of foam pads. After surgery, the surface area of CoP decreased significantly, especially in the non-dominant eye viewing condition. We suggest that strabismic children use mainly proprioceptive information in order to control their posture, but also visual inputs, which are important for obtaining a good postural stability. The alignment of the visual axes after surgery provides enhanced postural stability, suggesting, again the major role of visual inputs in the control of posture. Proprioceptive plasticity after strabismus surgery may allow better visual rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale- Université Paris 7, Robert Debré University HospitalUMR 1141, Paris, France; Vestibular and Oculomotor Evaluation Unit, ENT Department, Robert Debré University HospitalParis, France.
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale- Université Paris 7, Robert Debré University HospitalUMR 1141, Paris, France; Vestibular and Oculomotor Evaluation Unit, ENT Department, Robert Debré University HospitalParis, France.
authors.forename: Hayette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soufi
authors.affiliation: Institut de Posturologie Paris, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale- Université Paris 7, Robert Debré University HospitalUMR 1141, Paris, France; Vestibular and Oculomotor Evaluation Unit, ENT Department, Robert Debré University HospitalParis, France.
authors.forename: Lucile
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colleville
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Robert Debré University Hospital Paris, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bui-Quoc
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale- Université Paris 7, Robert Debré University HospitalUMR 1141, Paris, France; Vestibular and Oculomotor Evaluation Unit, ENT Department, Robert Debré University HospitalParis, France.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lions
keywords: children; foam pad; postural control; proprioception; strabismus