Galvanic vestibular stimulation in a patient with paraparesis following spinal cord injury: case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17267/2965-3738bis.2025.e6395Keywords:
Spinal Cord Injuries, Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation, Paraplegia, Case ReportAbstract
INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord trauma is one of the main causes of disability in young adults. The loss of motor control components stems from the loss of continuity of the neural pathways underlying the spinal cord, of which we emphasize the corticospinal, vestibulospinal, and reticulospinal tracts. Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) can stimulate projection and propriospinal circuits related to body weight support and mobility. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe a case of a patient with a spinal cord injury, disability scale C, and paraparesis sequelae a year ago, who improved his posture and recovered his gait after therapeutic intervention with galvanic vestibular stimulation associated with vestibular rehabilitation and neurofunctional physiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The assessments carried out were a clinical assessment, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale, a computerized graphic postural assessment, and a posturographic assessment using the Sensory Organization and Functional Reach Tests. The patient underwent the Therapeutic Proof for dosimetry of GVS, and then ten rehabilitation sessions were held with GVS associated with neurofunctional physiotherapy and vestibular rehabilitation. RESULTS: The patient showed changes in each of the assessments in the post-intervention evaluation. The main finding was that the patient recovered walking with support (parallel bar or walker) in the 8th session. CONCLUSION: Galvanic vestibular stimulation is a novel and promising adjunct to body support and mobility regarding stimulating motor control.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Catarina Costa Boffino, Kathelyn Regina Cursino dos Santos, Sara Brandão Leite, Ana Julia de Lima do Carmo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
