| Sumario: | Contextualization: The analysis of postural control in individuals with and without visual impairments, in situations of balance instability, can help to understand the contribution of vision and other somatosensory sources to maintaining balance. Objective: This study aimed to compare dynamic balance between individuals with and without visual impairment. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three participants aged 18 to 58 were divided into two groups: 17 with total or partial vision impairment (Blind People - BP) and 16 sighted individuals (Sighted People - SP). Participants performed a balance maintenance task on an unstable platform (Up-balance) for three 10-second trials. The Up-balance provided data for analyzing medio-lateral (ML) and antero-posterior (AP) movements in parallel and semi-tandem foot positions, respectively. Variables included absolute (AMT) and average (AVT) movement time, and the number of imbalances (IMB). The study procedures were approved by the local Ethical committee (CAAE 19886713.0.0000.5231). Results: In the condition with vision, sighted individuals demonstrated better performance compared to blind individuals, as indicated by greater absolute movement time and average movement time, and lower number of imbalances (p < 0.05). However, when visual information was occluded, sighted performance declined significantly, reflected by decreased AMT, AVT, and increased IMB (p < 0.05). Notably, this decline brought the performance of sighted individuals in line with that of blind individuals (AMT, AVT, and IMB; p > 0.05), indicating a convergence in dynamic balance outcomes between the two groups when visual information was restricted. Conclusions: Even though there is a chronic adaptation in people with visual impairment, their sensorimotor reorganization for movement regulation was not able to provide better performance in the unstable platform in comparison to the sighted people. Together, the results reinforce the contribution of visual information in postural control to maintain balance in sighted people, and the need to stimulate dynamic balance in blind people.
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