Abstract
Locomotion is essential in daily life. Past research has shown that healthy subjects are successful in reaching a short-distance destination without vision (Thomson 1980). The objective of this study is to describe reaction to the known presence of physical obstacles when navigating in a straight or diagonal path without vision for 8 meters. Ten healthy subjects (19-23 years old) participated in this study. Kinematic data were collected with a Vicon Motion Analysis System including 8 cameras, with a full-body marker set. Pool noodles were used to create physical obstacles. For the total distance travelled by the subject, there was no significant differences between the straight path and the diagonal path [F(2,18) = 0.04, p > 0.05]. Also, a significant difference was found between the presence of zero, one or two obstacles [F (2, 18) = 17.85, p < 0.05]. For the final angular deviation of the subject, there was no significant differences between straight path and diagonal path [F(1,9) = 3.489, p > 0.05 ]. There was a close to significant difference between the presence versus absenceof obstacles [ F(2,18) = 3.368, p= 0.057]. Without obstacle, subjects undershoot the target. However, we found that for every obstacle added, there was an impact on the distance travelled, as subjects walked further.Acknowledgments: CIHR, Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada and University of Ottawa