Avalição prospectiva da Estimulação Vestibular Galvânica na instabilidade postural em indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson

Abstract

Objective: To assess the longitudinal effects of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) on postural instability in individuals living with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Methods: This is an experimental, within-subject study with follow-up at three time points. Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD) at stage three on the Modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale, with complaints of instability, were evaluated before, immediately after, and six months after GVS treatment (pre-GVS, post-GVS, and 6-months post-GVS, respectively), administered once a week for eight consecutive weeks. An alternating current with a variable intensity from 1mA to 3.5mA was used. The duration of the stimulus was one or two minutes, and the number of repetitions varied from three to five times over the course of the follow-up. Postural instability assessment included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Posturography. Results: Twelve individuals participated in all three phases, of which 58.3% were male. The mean age was 66.4 years (SD=9.6 years), and the mean duration of PD diagnosis was 8.0 years (SD=3.2 years). The TUG, BBS and the Vestibular and Overall Balance Index improved after GVS, and the effects persisted after six months (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: GVS improved postural instability, and this effect persisted after six months.