Neuromodulation in the rehabilitation of body balance in elderly people with Parkinson's disease

This study compared posture and balance before and after a protocol of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) applied once a week for 12 consecutive weeks in 20 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and postural imbalance. After the intervention period, the patients were followed for nine months.

With only 20 participants in what appears to be a protocol or pilot RCT, results are preliminary; audiologists and vestibular specialists should monitor this line of research but cannot yet adopt GVS for Parkinsonian balance rehabilitation based on this study alone.

GVS sits at the intersection of vestibular rehabilitation and neurology; if validated in larger trials, it could expand the role of audiology and vestibular therapy clinics in managing balance disorders in Parkinson's disease.

1. 0120 elderly Parkinson's patients received 12 weekly sessions of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS).
2. 02Outcomes measured include posture and body balance before and after the intervention.
3. 03Study design is RCT-style (protocol), published in Neurophysiologie Clinique.
4. 04Sample size is small (n=20), limiting generalisability of any findings.
5. 05GVS delivers mild electrical stimulation near the ear to engage the vestibular (inner-ear balance) system.

PMID

42468058

DOI

10.1016/j.neucli.2026.103186.

Journal

Neurophysiologie Clinique

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

1b

Sample size

20

Population

Elderly patients with Parkinson's disease experiencing balance impairment

Intervention

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) — 12 weekly sessions

Comparator

Pre-intervention baseline (within-subject comparison; control arm details not fully specified in abstract)