Effect of Eye Movement Exercise on Gait Spatial and Temporal Parameters in Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegic Children

Cerebral palsy is often accompanied by a dysfunction of the visual system consisting of an anterior part both eyes and the optic nerves up to the optic chiasm and a posterior part--the optic tracts, the lateral geniculate nuclei, the optic radiations and the occipital cortex. among children with cerebral palsy, 49.6% had ophthalmological disorders. The eye movement disorders are most common showing functional abnormalities such as gaze, saccade, and smooth pursuit in addition to strabismus and abnormal eye movements. In other words, the aspects of cerebral palsy are based not only on motor dysfunction characteristics and local anatomy but also on neuro-ophthalmology.

The visual perception system has a great influence on postural control and motor development by engaging in spatial association, identifying object characteristics, and distinguishing objects and their backgrounds, and eye movement function to place the image of nearby objects in the center also acts as an important factor in postural control and motor development. Eye movement control is the most basic type of visual perception, and lack of eye movement control often occurs in patients suffering from central nervous system diseases.

In order to achieve balance during normal gait, diverse brain regions, such as the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and brain stem are involved. There are three crucial functional factors: the supporting action of the musculoskeletal system, the coordination of functional eye movement, and the integration of sensory function with action.

Eye movement training, in which movement patterns are adjusted through visual feedback, has been studied recently. Visual field and visual accuracy affect balance and movement ability, and in particular, patients with problems in the visual system often develop problems with balance ability.

The vestibular system contributes to postural stability and visual stabilization through the vestibulo-spinal reflex (VSR) and the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). The vestibulo-ocular reflex is a reflex eye movement that stabilizes images on the retina during head movement. A rotation of the head is detected, which triggers an inhibitory signal to the extraocular muscles on one side and an excitatory signal to the muscles on the other side. The result is a compensatory movement of the eyes. the vestibulo-ocular reflex does not depend on visual input and works even in total darkness or when the eyes are closed.