Primary Health Condition: Age-related decline in balance and postural control (pre-frailty/frailty associated with aging). Related Terms (for visibility): Fall risk in elderly, Sarcopenia, Sensorimotor decline, Postural sway, Neuromuscular aging.
Conditions
Interventions
Intervention 1: Intervention group: Pink Noise Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (nGVS only) Participants receive 30 minutes of subsensory, transcutaneous pink noise electrical stimulation via electrode
Sponsors
Shiraz University
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
60 Years to 75 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Aged 65 years or older Ability to stand independently without assistive devices Ability to follow simple instructions and perform basic movements No diagnosed neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting balance. Willing to provide informed consent Resident of Shiraz and accessible for follow-up
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: History of severe cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic diseases Use of medications that significantly affect balance or muscle function Recent history of falls (within the past 6 months) Vestibular disorders or severe visual/hearing impairments Participation in another structured exercise program in the past 3 months Inability to complete the training protocol or attend sessions regularly
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Root Mean Square (RMS) of the Center of Pressure (COP) in the anterior-posterior (AP) axis during quiet standing (eyes open), measured in millimeters (mm). Timepoint: The primary outcome (RMS of COP in the AP axis) will be measured at two time points: Baseline (T0): Immediately before the start of the 30-minute intervention session. Post-Intervention (T1): Immediately after the completion of the same 30-minute intervention session. Method of measurement: The primary outcome variable (RMS of COP in the AP axis) will be measured using a force platform (force plate). Participants will stand quietly on the plate for 30 seconds, and ground reaction force data will be sampled at 1000 Hz. The center of pressure (COP) trajectory will be calculated from this data, and its root mean square (RMS) value in the anterior-posterior direction will be derived using signal processing software (e.g., MATLAB). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary Outcome Variables:COP Dynamics: Mean velocity of COP displacement, sample entropy of COP, and Romberg ratio in both anterior-posterior and medial-lateral axes.Postural Control: Duration and amplitude of anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) and amplitude of compensatory postural adjustments (CPA).Neuromuscular Function: Maximum torque of the elbow joint during isokinetic flexion, and the frequency structure (spectral analysis) of biceps brachii EMG activity during elbow flexion. Timepoint: The secondary outcome variables will be measured at the same two time points as the primary outcome:Baseline (T0): Immediately before the start of the 30-minute intervention session.Post-Intervention (T1): Immediately after the completion of the same 30-minute intervention session. Method of measurement: Secondary Outcome Measurement Methods: COP Dynamics (Velocity, Sample Entropy, Romberg Ratio): Measured using the same force platform as the primary outcome, with data processed in MATLAB. Postural Control (APA & CPA): Measured using a force platform synchronized with surface EMG and an accelerometer attached to a pendulum. The EMG onset and amplitude from trunk/leg muscles are analyzed before and after a predictable perturbation (pendulum hit). Neuromuscular Function (Torque & EMG Spectrum): Measured using an isokinetic dynamometer for maximum elbow flexion torque and surface EMG on the biceps brachii muscle. The EMG signal is processed via Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to analyze its frequency structure. | — |
Countries
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Contacts
Public ContactAhmadreza Dehghani
Shiraz University
Outcome results
None listed