Electrical vestibular stimulation to improve balance in older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among older adults, often linked to vestibular dysfunction. While vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a standard intervention, designed to compensate for vestibular impairment with proprioceptive and visual cues, potential cumulative effects of noisy Electrical Vestibular Stimulation (nEVS) on balance improvement in older adults are not well understood.

Objective

This study evaluated the efficacy of cumulative nEVS dosing in improving static balance, its potential mechanisms, and clinical significance.

Methods

A single-blind, pilot randomized controlled trial enrolled 40 older adults (mean age: 77.7 ± 11.8 years). Participants were randomly assigned to a Stimulation group (nEVS intervention) or

SUBMITTER: King JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12577125 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature