Plantar Biophotonic Stimulation improves Ocular-motor and Postural Control in Motor Vehicle Accident Patients

Abstract

Worldwide road accident related statistics reflect a consistent increase of motor vehicle accidents (MVA). Survivors of motor vehicle accidents experience a range of head injuries from whiplash, concussion, and mild to severe traumatic brain injuries, of which the most severe may result in incapacitation or death. Central sensory-motor controls (SMC), including ocular-visual, ocular-motor, vestibular, and cerebellar systems are primarily affected. Methods: Visual-ocular convergence (VOC) and postural balance (PB) tests are used among others to measure the degree of central sensory-motor controls dysfunction. This retrospective study (n=19) investigates the effect of passive biophotonic stimulation applied to plantar postural sensory afferents on VOC and PB tests conducted during a neurophysiological evaluation. Stabilogram diffusion analysis (SDA) of the centre of pressure trajectory from the PB test was used to determine the amount of stochastic activity and dynamic behavior of postural control (Collins and De Luca, Exp Brain Res 95:308-318, 1993). Results: Visual-ocular convergence was significantly closer (p<0.001) with stimulation (5.3±1.0 cm) than without (11±1.0 cm). Stabilogram diffusion analysis of the centre of pressure trajectory from the PB test showed trends to a reduction in the short term diffusion coefficient (0.2±0.03 to 0.15±0.03; p=0.084) and an increase in the long term diffusion coefficient (0.003±0.001 to 0.006±0.001; p=0.079) with stimulation. Conclusions: There was an increase in ocular-visual performance and quicker corrective postural response and reliance on a long term postural strategy with biophotonic stimulation. These data suggest that biophotonic stimulation may be a promising technology for treatment of post MVA trauma brain dysfunction.