Body Awareness and Dance-Based Training for Persons with Acquired Blindness—Effects on Balance and Gait Speed

Background: Visual impairment may cause difficulties with motor skills involving postural control. As a part of rehabilitation, it is important to assess whether training can affect postural control in individuals with visual impairment. Aim: The purpose was to assess the effect of body awareness exercises and dance-based training on balance and gait speed in individuals of working age with acquired blindness. Method: Eight subjects with acquired blindness, aged 30–62 years, were recruited from the Low Vision Clinic of Stockholm. An ABA Single Subject Research Design was used. Results of one-leg stance, functional reach, maximum step length, timed up and go, and self-selected and maximum gait speeds were inspected visually and analyzed according to the 2-SD band method. The intervention included body awareness exercises and dance-based training twice a week for eight weeks. Results: Seven subjects completed the study. According to the 2-SD band technique, functional reach increased significantly in six of the subjects and was the variable that changed the most. Timed Up and Go decreased significantly in one subject and was the variable that changed the least. In one subject there was no change in any of the variables. Conclusion: According to the results, the main improvement was in the ability to reach forward. In some subjects, however, there was also improvement in other balance functions and in gait speed. Further studies are needed to assess the effect of body awareness and dance-based training in blind individuals.