Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34609323›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2021

Noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Combined With a Multisensory Balance Program in Older Adults With Moderate to High Fall Risk: Protocol for a Feasibility Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ruth McLaren, Paul F Smith, Sue Lord, Preet Kamal Kaur, Yiwen Zheng, Denise Taylor

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 36% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Ruth McLarenRehabilitation Innovation Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1803-6944
Paul F SmithDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1961-7118
Sue LordRehabilitation Innovation Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6670-6191
Preet Kamal KaurRehabilitation Innovation Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8781-3930
Yiwen ZhengDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2439-0715
Denise TaylorRehabilitation Innovation Centre, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0955-5702
Auckland University of Technology · NZUniversity of Otago · NZ

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundReduced mobility and falls are common among older adults. Balance retraining programs are effective in reducing falls and in improving balance and mobility. Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation is a low-level electrical stimulation used to reduce the threshold for the firing of vestibular neurons via a mechanism of stochastic resonance.

objectiveThis study aims to determine the feasibility of using noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation to augment a balance training program for older adults at risk of falls. We hypothesize that noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation will enhance the effects of balance retraining in older adults at risk of falls.

methodsIn this 3-armed randomized controlled trial, community dwelling older adults at risk of falling will be randomly assigned to a noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation plus balance program (noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation group), sham plus balance program (sham group), or a no treatment group (control). Participants will attend the exercise group twice a week for 8 weeks with assessment of balance and gait pretreatment, posttreatment, and at 3 months postintervention. Primary outcome measures include postural sway, measured by center of pressure velocity, area and root mean square, and gait parameters such as speed, step width, step variability, and double support time. Spatial memory will also be measured using the triangle completion task and the 4 Mountains Test.

resultsRecruitment began in November 2020. Data collection and analysis are expected to be completed by December 2022.

conclusionsThis study will evaluate the feasibility of using noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation alongside balance retraining in older adults at risk of falls and will inform the design of a fully powered randomized controlled trial.

trial registrationNew Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620001172998); https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=379944. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/32085.

Indexed as

balancebrain stimulationnGVSnoisy galvanic vestibular stimulationolder adultrehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID34609323
PMCPMC8527374
OpenAlexW3192061556

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.