Work experience at height suppressed the effect of dynamic visual input on postural sway when static visual cues were visible (original) (raw)

Background:Balance skills are challenged at the roofing worksite by dynamic visual cues in the form of clouds and trees that move with the wind; any instability may result in a fall from height.Aim:To determine if roofers are less susceptible to a dynamic visual surround (moving room) when stationary cues were available, relative to people who do not work in a similar environment.Methods:Forty male adults participated, including young roofers (N=10,26.3 years), middle-aged roofers (N=10,50.6 years), young controls (N=10,26.2 years) and middle-aged controls (N=10,55.1 years). Center of pressure root mean square (APRMS) was assessed during quiet standing and four moving room conditions when stationary cues were:(1)not in place,(2)in the foreground (inside the moving room),(3)in the background (outside the moving room, but still visible) and (4)in the foreground and background. Results:A workgroup by visual cue interaction was observed (p=0.032), where roofers had up to 18% lower APRMS...