Can Postural Instability Respond to Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation in Patients with Parkinson's Disease?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) activates the vestibular afferents, and these changes in vestibular input exert a strong influence on the subject's posture or standing balance. In patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), vestibular dysfunction might contribute to postural instability and gait disorders.

Methods

Current intensity was increased to 0.7 mA, and the current was applied to the patients for 20 minutes. To perform a sham stimulation, the current intensity was increased as described and then decreased to 0 mA over the course of 10 seconds. The patient's status was recorded continuously for 20 minutes with the patient in the supine position.

Results

Three out of 5 patients diagnosed with PD with postural instability and/or abnormal axial posture

SUBMITTER: Kataoka H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4734983 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature