Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Function in Individuals with Car Sickness: A Cross-Sectional Study

ObjectiveTo determine whether Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) integrity is different between young adults with and without car sickness, To assess the effect of gender on VOR integrity in young adults with and without car sickness and To compare postural stability across different levels of physical activity in young adults with and without car sickness. DesignCross-sectional study SettingGeneral community ParticipantsForty-six healthy young adult men and women (ages 20-40 years) with and without car sickness Main Outcome measuresBertec Vision Advantage (BVA) was used to assess VOR integrity, computerized dynamic posturography with immersion virtual reality(CDP-IVR) was used to assess postural stability and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) was used to assess physical activity. ResultsAmong females, there was no significant difference in BVA outcomes between the car sickness and no car sickness groups (p>0.05, Table 2), In males, there was no significant difference in median (Inter quartile range (IQR) outcomes by study group except for DVA lines lost. Male participants in the car sickness group had more lines lost compared to males in the no car sickness group. O_TBL View this table: org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19455f1org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1965791org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14efcb0org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@af8eaaorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1bf4061_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_TBL O_FLOATNOTable 2.C_FLOATNO O_TABLECAPTIONMedian (IQR) Outcomes by Car Sickness for Females (N=25) C_TABLECAPTION C_TBL ConclusionOur findings showed that male participants with car sickness appeared to have a weaker VOR compared to females. Also, we found no significant interaction between physical activity and postural stability in young adults with and without car sickness. Future studies should consider assessing postural stability in the sitting position to better replicate the functional position of driving.