Neck- and balance related complaints in subjects with visual impairment and ongoing inpatient-rehabilitation: an exploratory cross-sectional study

Neck pain, impaired cervical motor control, fear of falling, and balance limitations may be relevant but under-recognized concerns in inpatient ophthalmologic rehabilitation for patients with visual impairment (VI). To investigate whether onset/duration and type of VI influence neck and balance complaints in visually impaired patients. Exploratory cross-sectional study of 80 participants (median age 58 years; 43 women, 37 men). Outcomes included neck pain (NRS), neck disability (NDI), cervical motor control, fear of falling (FES-I), balance (FABS), and vision-related quality of life (NEI VFQ-25 C). Associations were analyzed by VI duration (Group I < 1 year; Group II > 3 years; Group III 1-3 years) and VI type (unilateral; unilateral blindness; bilateral; bilateral blindness; other; not classifiable). Neck pain was reported by 71.3% (NRSmean 4.6/10, SD 1.7 (median: 4.0 (IQR: 2.0-7.0)); NDI 13.5/50, SD 6.0). Participants performed a mean of 2.3/4 motor control tests incorrectly (SD 1.1). Fear of falling was moderate (FES-I 24.8/64, SD 7.7), balance performance was below age average (FABS 33.2/40, SD 3.6), and NEI VFQ-25 C averaged 0.65 logits (SD 1.91). Higher fear of falling was associated with longer-lasting VI (f = 0.31; χ² = 8.94; p = .01) and with more severe VI types (f = 0.41; χ² = 10.82; p = .03). This assessment captures frequent neck pain, impaired cervical motor control, increased Fear of Falling and non-age appropriate Balance in this population. Findings show greater Fear of Falling with longer lasting VI-Symptoms and increasing VI severity, ranging from visual impairment to blindness and from unilateral to bilateral involvement. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Registration-Number: DRKS00035125, registered on 30.09.2024.