Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) combined with a multisensory balance programme in older adults with moderate to high falls risk: A feasibility study for an RCT (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Reduced mobility and falls are common in older adults. Balance retraining programmes are effective in reducing falls and improving balance and mobility. Noisy galvanic stimulation (nGVS) is a low level electrical stimulation used to reduce the threshold for firing of vestibular neurons via a mechanism of stochastic resonance. We hypothesise that nGVS will enhance the effects of balance retraining in older adults at risk of falls. Methods: This 3- armed randomised controlled trial assesses the feasibility of augmenting balance retraining with nGVS. Community dwelling older adults at risk of falling will be randomly assigned to either an nGVS plus balance programme (nGVS group), sham plus balance programme (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 pre-treatment, post-treatment and at 3-months post-intervention. Primary outcome measures include postural sway, measured by Centre of Pressure (COP) velocity, area and root mean square and gait parameters of speed, step width, step variability and double support time. Spatial memory will also be measured using the Triangle Completion and 4 Mountains Tests. Discussion: This study will evaluate the feasibility of using nGVS alongside balance retraining in older adults at risk of falls and will inform the design of a fully powered randomised controlled trial. Trial registration: This trial has been prospectively registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620001172998) and has a UTN of U1111-1241-2231.