|
|
Visual Midline Shift Syndrome (VMSS) Visual Midline Shift Syndrome {(VMSS) Padula}, is a condition that affects balance, posture, orientation and mobility can occur following TBI and stroke. In VMSS the persons' visual perception of the world will appear compressed in one portion and expanded in another. Their perception of the world will therefore appear slanted, or tipped, and walls may appear bowed and distorted. Balance is disrupted when attempts are made to orient to that perception of the visual world. For example, imagine a patient who has suffered a left cerebral vascular accident (CVA) with right hemiparesis and right hemianopsia. This patient will be observed to weight bear left. A shift of the visual perception of their midline to the non-affected side will often be found. A mismatch results between the visual perception of self, spatial relations and the physical and kinesthetic feedback received. Since vision is the dominant sense attempts are to orient to the visual perception. As a result, VMSS will cause, and / or, exacerbate problems with balance, orientation and mobility. VMSS can also be found in patients showing extensor and flexor postures. In these cases the VMSS will be shifted either up, or down. |