Vestibular Stimulation for Improving Balance and Walking

Summary

We seek to recruit healthy older adults for a research study on the therapeutic benefits of vestibular stimulation on balance and walking. You will be asked to come to the lab 3 times a week for 6 weeks, with 9-, 12-, 18-, and 30-week follow up visits. Each visit will last ~1 hour. All parking fees will be covered (please bring your receipt to the lab). During each visit, we will have you perform simple balance and gait tasks before and after experiencing 15 min of mild electrical vestibular stimulation.

Eligibility

Currently recruiting participants: Yes

Eligible ages: 50 to 90

Accepts healthy participants: Yes

Inclusion criteria:

Healthy adults ages 50-100. All participants must be free from any diagnosed neurological or musculoskeletal disorders.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Participants with pacemaker devices and hearing aid implants will be excluded to avoid any potential electrical interference from electrical stimulation used in this study.

2. Participants must have the mental capacity to provide consent and perform tasks required by the experiment.

3. Participants must be 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.

4. Participants must be able to complete gait assessment tests such as walking up to 200m on a flat surface without assistance.

Participate

Fill out the following form if you want to participate in this research

Method of contact

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Additional information

Contact information

Jordan King, Lead Investigator

Principal investigator:

Ryan Peters

Clinical trial:

No

REB-ID:

REB22-1006