Electrical Vestibular Stimulation (EVS) for Balance and Gait
This study is looking at how electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) can improve balance and walking ability. EVS involves placing small electrodes behind your ears to send electrical currents to the nerves that help with balance. Researchers want to see if EVS is safe and effective for improving balance and gait in healthy people aged 18 to 100. You might be able to join if you can stand with your feet together (eyes open and closed) for at least one minute, and walk up to 200 meters without help. The study will measure your balance and walking speed before, during, and up to six months after treatment to see if EVS helps.
- Study design
- This interventional study plans to enroll 500 participants. It compares electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) to a sham device where no current is applied.
- What's involved
- You would undergo balance assessments like standing with feet together and gait assessments like walking up to 200m. These assessments will be done before, during, and after EVS treatment.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your balance and gait performance will be measured from enrollment through the end of treatment and up to 6 months post treatment.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Therapeutic Effects of Electrical Vestibular Stimulation (EVS) on Balance and Gait
At a glance
Conditions
NCT06846047
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 4 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
Caring Hands Caregivers
Cupertino, Californiastudy coordinator listed
Recruiting
Neursantys
Menlo Park, Californiastudy coordinator listed
Recruiting
Sparx Wellness Institute
Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canadastudy coordinator listed
Recruiting
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canadastudy coordinator listed
Recruiting
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- Ryan M Peters, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Calgary
Who to contact
Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.
What this trial measures
- Postural Sway Measure of Balance PerformanceFrom enrollment through the end of treatment and up to 6 months post treatment
Postural sway will be calculated from acceleration profiles of the head measured using data from a head-mounted accelerometer in eyes open and eyes closed conditions. The raw acceleration signals are in units of G. The outcome measure is expressed as a sway power value (in Watts). Sway power measured during static standing has been shown to be a precise, quickly administered assessment of balance performance with excellent sensitivity in the identification of older adult fallers. We will complete the above 2-minute postural sway assessment (60 seconds eyes open followed by 60 seconds eyes closed) immediately before and after each of the 18 EVS treatment sessions in order to track each study participant's changes in balance performance following each treatment session and the cumulative change following completion of the 18 session treatment protocol.
- Sensory Integration Measure of Balance PerformanceFrom enrollment through the end of treatment and up to 6 months post treatment
Sensory integration will be calculated from acceleration profiles of the head measured using data from a head-mounted accelerometer in eyes open and eyes closed conditions. The raw acceleration signals are in units of G. The outcome measure is calculated using a frequency spectrum analysis of the normalized contributions of the three sensory inputs (visual, vestibular, proprioceptive) to balance control. Sensory integration measured during static standing using wearable sensors or computerized dynamic posturography has been shown to be a precise, quickly administered assessment of sensory contributions to balance control with excellent sensitivity in the identification of sensory impairments that disrupt balance in older adults. Sensory reweighting will be calculated using the head acceleration data from the above 2-minute postural sway assessment (60 seconds eyes open followed by 60 seconds eyes closed) immediately before and after each of the 18 EVS treatment sessions in order to tr
- Gait Velocity Measure of Gait PerformanceFrom enrollment through the end of treatment and up to 6 months post treatment
Dynamic gait performance will be measured using data from a head-mounted accelerometer. The raw acceleration signals are in units of G. For dynamic gait tasks, the outcome measures will be the peak walking speed (in Meters per Second) achieved over a set of pre-defined distances from 3 meters to 100 meters. Wearable sensor-based gait velocity tests are widely used in research for older adults with and without pathology, and have norm referenced values and robust clinimetric properties. The above gait velocity measurements will be carried out prior to the first EVS treatment session and following the final (18th) EVS treatment session in order to track the cumulative change in each study participant's gait performance following completion of the 18 session treatment protocol.
- Gait Cadence Measure of Gait PerformanceFrom enrollment through the end of treatment and up to 6 months post treatment
Dynamic gait performance will be measured using data from a head-mounted accelerometer. The raw acceleration signals are in units of G. For dynamic gait tasks, the outcome measures will be gait cadence (in Steps per Second) over a set of pre-defined distances from 3 meters to 100 meters. Wearable sensor-based gait cadence tests are widely used in research for older adults with and without pathology, and have norm referenced values and robust clinimetric properties. The above gait cadence measurements will be carried out prior to the first EVS treatment session and following the final (18th) EVS treatment session in order to track the cumulative change in each study participant's gait performance following completion of the 18 session treatment protocol.
- Step Length Measure of Gait PerformanceFrom enrollment through the end of treatment and up to 6 months post treatment
Dynamic gait performance will be measured using data from a head-mounted accelerometer. The raw acceleration signals are in units of G. For dynamic gait tasks, the outcome measures will be step length (in Meters) over a set of pre-defined distance from 3 meters to 100 meters. Wearable sensor-based step length tests are widely used in research for older adults with and without pathology, and have norm referenced values and robust clinimetric properties. The above step length measurements will be carried out prior to the first EVS treatment session and following the final (18th) EVS treatment session in order to track the cumulative change in each study participant's gait performance following completion of the 18 session treatment protocol.
- Step Trajectory Measure of Gait PerformanceFrom enrollment through the end of treatment and up to 6 months post treatment
Dynamic gait performance will be measured using data from a head-mounted accelerometer. The raw acceleration signals are in units of G. For dynamic gait tasks, the outcome measures will be the distribution of head trajectories during each step (in Angular Degrees) over a set of pre-defined distances from 3 meters to 100 meters. Wearable sensor-based step trajectory tests are widely used in research for older adults with and without pathology, and have norm referenced values and robust clinimetric properties. The above step trajectory measurements will be carried out prior to the first EVS treatment session and following the final (18th) EVS treatment session in order to track the cumulative change in each study participant's gait performance following completion of the 18 session treatment protocol.