Control of gaze and posture in type 2 diabetic patients: coordination of eyes, head, and trunk

• Grant number: 12/03095-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Sérgio Tosi Rodrigues
• Grantee: Thais Cristina Delacosta
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Large changes of the line of gaze in space require coordination of eyes, head and trunk. Regarding situations in which only eyes move, there are evidences that saccades may affect postural control in order to obtain stability for perceiving and acting, but the influences of eye, head, and trunk coordination are not stablished so far. Studying populations with specific difficulties of stabilizing posture, such as diabetic patients, may contribute to understand perceptual and motor mechanisms involved, as well as providing the scientific bases for early diagnosis of this growing disease in our society. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of eye, head, and trunk movements on postural control of non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic participants, without peripheral neuropathy. (AU)