ABSTRACT
While the phenomenon of balance (hereafter referred to as postural control) may seem inherently rudimentary to the casual observer, postural control is a complex and plural construct. Individuals with visual impairments (VIs) have historically presented with inferior postural control performance when compared to peers without VIs. However, the impact of decreased postural control on voluntary, goal-directed (i.e., suprapostural) tasks such as movement remains evasive in individuals with VIs. While the physiological benefit of vision for postural control should be acknowledged, the presence of a VI should not be viewed as an unsurmountable sensorimotor constraint. This point is increasingly noteworthy as individuals with VIs may not naturally develop their postural control systems to the extent that they are able to exploit their postural control performance for movement/suprapostural tasks. Thus, postural control may be a vital mechanism of action for the promotion of movement behaviors and health in individuals with VIs that must be considered, developed, and studied by professionals. The ensuing chapter has aimed to provide an empirically robust content and research overview, as well as offer recommendations for future research, practical implications, and concluding remarks surrounding the interplay between postural control, movement, and individuals with visual impairments.
