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Review article • Braz. j. otorhinolaryngol. 88 (Suppl 3) • Nov-Dec 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2022.05.010   copy

Galvanic vestibular stimulation and its applications: a systematic review★ ★ Peer Review under the responsibility of Associacção Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. , ★★ ★★ Study carried out at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Highlights

Galvanic vestibular stimulation is used for peripheral and central vestibular rehabilitation.

Galvanic vestibular stimulation partially or totally improves body balance.

Galvanic vestibular stimulation has also therapeutic application in cognition and mood.

Abstract

Objective:

Galvanic vestibular stimulation has been evaluated in the context of vestibular rehabilitation. The objective was to identify evidence in the scientific literature about the clinical applications of galvanic vestibular stimulation.

Methods:

In this systematic review, the articles describing the applications of galvanic vestibular stimulation were extracted from PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, LILACS and SciELO databases. The survey was limited to articles published in English, Portuguese and Spanish. All the articles about the clinical applications of galvanic vestibular stimulation were compiled. Repeated articles in the databases, literature review articles, case reports, letters and editorials were excluded. The descriptors included: galvanic vestibular stimulation, postural balance, central nervous system diseases, vestibular diseases, spinal cord diseases and cognition.

Results:

The search strategy resulted in the initial selection of 994 articles; the reading of titles and abstracts was accomplished in 470 articles and the complete reading in 23 articles. Clinical applications of galvanic vestibular stimulation included Ménière’s disease, vestibular neuritis, bilateral vestibular disorders, vestibular schwannoma, Parkinson’s disease, ischemic central lesions, motor myelopathies, anxiety disorders, cognition and memory.

Conclusion:

Galvanic vestibular stimulation has been considered a potentially useful strategy for balance rehabilitation, since it has the effect of stimulating the central connections related to the postural balance, favoring new neuronal synapses that allow the partial or total recovery of postural imbalance.

Keywords
Postural balance; Central nervous system diseases; Vestibular diseases; Electric stimulation; Cognition

Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Sede da Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico Facial, Av. Indianópolia, 1287, 04063-002 São Paulo/SP Brasil, Tel.: (0xx11) 5053-7500, Fax: (0xx11) 5053-7512 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revista@aborlccf.org.br
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