P33. Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation improves dynamic walking stability in healthy subjects. Issue 8 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wuehr, M.; Nusser, E.; Krafczyk, S.; Brandt, T.; Jahn, K.; Schniepp, R.
• Is Part Of: Clinical neurophysiology. Volume 126:Issue 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: e113
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Electroencephalography -- Periodicals; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.04.171
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-2457

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="ab005"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title id="st005">Introduction</title> <p id="sp005">We examined the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) delivered as zero-mean white noise current (noisy GVS) on the walking performance in healthy subjects.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st010">Methods</title> <p id="sp010">The walking performance of 15 healthy subjects (mean age 23.0 ± 1.3 years) at slow, preferred and fast walking speed was examined during two different conditions: (1) walking with eyes closed and zero amplitude sham noisy GVS, and (2) walking with eyes closed and non-zero amplitude noisy GVS set to 80% of the individual sensory threshold for GVS. We examined 10 gait parameters: stride time, stride length, base of support, swing time percentage, double support time percentage as well as the CV of stride time, stride length and base of support, gait asymmetry and bilateral phase synchronization.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st015">Results</title> <p id="sp015">Noisy GVS significantly improved stride time CV by 34% (<italic>p</italic> < 0.019), stride length CV by 26% (<italic>p</italic> < 0.048), base of support CV by 18% (<italic>p</italic> < 0.004), gait asymmetry by 39% (<italic>p</italic> < 0.037), and bilateral phase synchronization by 19% (<italic>p</italic> < 0.042). This ameliorating effect of noisy GVS on locomotion function was only observable during slow walking speeds.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st020">Conclusion</title> <p id="sp020">Noisy GVS is effective in improving locomotion function in healthy subjects. It predominantly targets the variability and bilateral coordination characteristics of the walking pattern, which are critically linked to dynamic walking stability. The predominant impact of noisy GVS during slow walking supports the principle of a speed-depended role of sensory feedback in locomotion control.</p> </sec> </abstract>