Therapeutic Effects of Electrical Vestibular Stimulation (EVS) on Balance and Gait
Neursantys Inc
Summary
The aim of the study to is determine the safety, feasibility, efficacy, and persistence of non-invasive EVS to improve balance and gait performance in healthy individuals across the lifespan. Specifically, our objective is to measure balance and gait performance before, during and after exposure to single sessions and across repeated sequences of EVS at multiple study partner sites.
Description
Background and Rationale Standing balance and stable gait are maintained through the integration of sensory feedback from the visual, somatosensory (muscle, skin, tendon, and joint receptors), and vestibular systems. The quality of this feedback, and the ability of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to integrate these signals and generate appropriate motor responses dictates balance and gait performance. Age-related balance decline, clinically known as presbystasis, is one of the most visible and debilitating signs of aging. More than 60 million people in the U.S. over the age…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Able to complete balance assessments such as standing with feet together/eyes open and feet together/eyes closed, both for at least 1 minute at a time, with no more than 1 minute rest required between tests. 2. Able to complete gait assessment tests such as walking up to 200m on a flat surface without assistance. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Participants must not be using a pacemaker, cochlear implant, or any other implanted electronic device. 2. Participants must be free from any diagnosed neurological or musculoskeletal injuries and/or disorders other than those explicitl…
Interventions
- Deviceelectrical vestibular stimulation (EVS)
EVS involves electrically activating the vestibular nerves by passing small electrical currents through electrodes placed on the mastoid processes (behind the ears) via battery powered, constant current isolated stimulators.
- DeviceSham Comparator
No current is applied during EVS treatment
Locations (4)
- Caring Hands CaregiversCupertino, California
- NeursantysMenlo Park, California
- University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta
- Sparx Wellness InstituteDieppe, New Brunswick