Effects of Changes in Movement Distance of Smooth Pursuit Eye Movements on Static Balance

Purpose: This study examined the effects of changes in the movement distance of smooth pursuit eye movements on static balance, based on the movement distance of a target moving horizontally.Methods: A total of 35 participants were recruited, and after excluding two dropouts, 33 participants completed the study in a single-group design.Participants wore an eye tracker and focused on an object 3 meters in front of them.They observed and tracked an object moving horizontally up to 5 meters to the left and right.Results: Results showed significant differences in the limit of stability, center of pressure mean velocity, and COP mean distance at 0m vs 5m and 3m vs 5m during the smooth pursuit eye movement (p<.05).These results demonstrate that smooth pursuit eye movements are correlated with static balance, based on the movement distance of a target moving horizontally. Conclusion:This indicates that smooth pursuit eye movement could offer a new rehabilitation paradigm to aid static balance in patients with neurological disorders such as stroke and Parkinson's disease, as well as elderly patients with reduced balance.