øyefotkoordinasjon

Øyefotkoordinasjon refers to the ability to coordinate eye movements with foot actions to achieve accurate timing and spatial placement of movements. It combines visual perception, motor planning, and proprioceptive feedback to align where the body intends to move with what the eyes observe.

Mechanisms underlying the skill include the use of visual information to guide limb trajectory. Eye movements such as saccades, fixations, and smooth pursuit help keep targets in the fovea while the legs adjust their trajectory and timing. Proprioception from the feet and ankles, along with vestibular input, informs balance and step timing. Brain networks involved include the parietal and occipital cortices for visuospatial processing, the cerebellum for coordination, and frontal areas for planning and execution. The system relies on both feedforward planning and online feedback control to adapt movements in real time.

Development and variation: Eye-foot coordination develops during childhood through practice and daily activities, and can improve with training. It can be affected by aging or neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, or Parkinson’s disease, leading to slower reaction times, greater variability, and increased fall risk.

Assessment and training: Clinically, it can be evaluated with tasks that require gaze-guided stepping, obstacle negotiation, or visually guided aiming, sometimes supported by eye-tracking and motion capture. Training approaches include sport- and task-specific drills, balance and gait training, video or virtual-reality feedback, and exercises that challenge visual attention and visuomotor integration.

Applications: The concept is relevant in rehabilitation, sports performance, and ergonomic design where precise eye–foot coordination contributes to effective movement.