Abstract

Introduction: Deeper understanding of the contribution of the vestibular system while performing sit-to-stand task is needed to determine the root cause of functional limitations to develop more effective assessment and interventions. We introduced Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) to interrupt vestibular neural signals and examine the phasic influence of vestibular neural input during two phases of sit-to-stand. Method: A 25 yrs old healthy male with No previous history of motion sickness, No neurological, musculoskeletal or vestibular problems. The medio-lateral Center of Mass (COM) was used as the main outcome measure: Peak-to-peak (Med-Lat P_P) and Root mean Square (Med-Lat RMS). The stimulus intensity threshold (x) was reported. Then the COM displacement was measured in three conditions: No stimulation (NO), 2x threshold stimulation and 4x threshold stimulation during sit-to-stand task. Results: As stimulation increased, Med-Lat P_P and RMS increased. Specifically, (1) there were 42% & 69% overall increase in overall P_P in 2x and 4x compared to NO, respectively (2) there were 56% & 76% overall increase in overall RMS in 2x and 4x compared to NO, respectively. Phase II showed 21% and 36% increase in P_P compared to Phase I in 2x and 4X respectively. Phase II also showed 18% and 54% increase in RMS compared to Phase I in 2x and 4X, respectively. Conclusion: We report a phase dependent maneuver of the vestibular inputs during sit-to-stand. We hope that these novel data will shed some light on the influence of vestibular inputs on functional tasks like sit-to-stand. Clinicians could benefit from an in-depth understanding and feasible analysis of the role of vestibular inputs during sit-to-stand and what they expect from their patients as elderly or patients with balance disorders. Such understanding could also make tests like timed up-and-go and 30-second sit-to-stand test more potentially useful in clinical decision making.

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