As the global population ages, declines in sensory, cognitive, and motor functions increase fall risk and compromise postural stability. Despite growing research, systematic reviews examining visual attention and postural stability-particularly through eye-tracking-remain scarce....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable change for audiologists directly, though findings may support the rationale for multisensory balance rehabilitation programs in older adults with vestibular or hearing-related balance deficits.
Audiologists managing patients with vestibular disorders and fall risk should be aware of the broader evidence linking visual attention and postural control, as it reinforces a multisensory approach to balance rehabilitation.
- 01Systematic review examined visual attention's role in postural stability in exercising older adults.
- 02Focus was on health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) as a context for fall risk reduction.
- 03Visual and vestibular systems interact closely; findings have indirect relevance to vestibular audiology.
- 04Systematic review methodology provides relatively higher-quality evidence synthesis.
- 05Does not directly address hearing loss or auditory contributions to balance.
Visual attention is associated with postural stability in older adults engaged in health-enhancing physical activity.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42339364
- DOI
- 10.3389/fnetp.2026.1841735.
- Journal
- Frontiers in Network Physiology
- Publication type
- review
- Evidence level
- 2a
- Population
- Older adults participating in health-enhancing physical activity
- Intervention
- Health-enhancing physical activity with visual attention demands
Primary outcomes
Postural stability; Fall risk reduction in older adults