Electromyographic Patterns of Lower Limb Muscles duringGait in Congenital Blindness and Sighted People

The visual system collects the information of the surroundings of the individual and plays a significant role in taking and maintaining balance and stability and planning the course of the movement. This study aimed to compare muscle activity of gait among blind and persons with full-sight and investigate the effects of closing the eyes on muscle activity of gait in persons with full-sight. In the present study 20 male (blind and persons with full-sight) were participated. Muscle activity of gait was measured in blind subjects without a cane and in normal subjects with and without vision. The differences between the two groups and the two walking conditions were determined through repeated measure ANOVA at a significance level of P<0.05. The results showed that eye closure did not cause a significant change in the activity of the selected muscles. Also, the intensity of activity in the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis muscles on the right side in open-eye condition was significantly different in persons with full-sight compared to the experimental group in both walking phases. Comparison of the intensity of muscle activity in blind and persons with full-sight in closed-eye condition showed a significant difference of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis in the right foot and the biceps femoris in the left foot (p<0.05). The findings imply that blind people have been able to increase their motor efficiency by changing the pattern ofgait and using other sensory systems.