earticle

영어

Background: This study examined the correlation between smooth pursuit eye movements and lower limb muscle activity, based on the movement distance of a target moving horizontally. Given the role of ocular motor control in balance and coordination, investigating the influence of smooth pursuit eye movement on lower‐limb muscle activation may inform novel, non‐invasive therapeutic interventions. Methods: Following the approval of Daegu University's Institutional Review Board (1040621-202109-HR-050), the experiment was conducted at D University from July 1 to July 31, 2024, with 33 participants who met the inclusion criteria: no visual or auditory impairments and no other neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. Each participant practiced smooth pursuit eye movement for 30 minutes. The participants wore an eye tracker, focused on an object three meters in front of them, and minimized neck movement by wearing a neck collar. They observed and tracked an object moving horizontally up to five meters to the left and right. For muscle activity in the lower limbs, this study measured the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, vastus medialis, and biceps femoris muscles. Results: Significant differences in the lower limb muscle activity were observed in the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, vastus medialis, and biceps femoris at the ranges of 0m vs. 5m and 3m vs. 5m (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that smooth pursuit eye movement may serve as a novel rehabilitation paradigm to enhance lower‐limb muscle activation in patients with neurological disorders such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Future studies should explore long‐term effects of repeated eye‐tracking interventions in larger and clinical populations to validate these preliminary results.