Sensorial afferents and center of foot pressure in blind and sighted adults

Variations in body posture were evaluated in 19 blind and 19 sighted adults by changes in the subjects' center of foot pressure on a force plate in time in three positions. The subjects who were blind had significantly larger body sway than did the sighted subjects in all trials except those in the sound position, where they had a better control of their stance than did the sighted subjects, and their body oscillations were also reduced in the forward-looking position. Thus, sound or proprioceptive adjunctive inputs can significantly alter body sway in adults who are blind.