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Testing Effectiveness of a Stochastic Noise Stimulator to Immediately Improve Balance and Gait
Improvements in Balance and Gait Using a Stochastic Noise Stimulator: Short Term Response
Who can join
Ages 21 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria Older (ages 60+) and younger (aged 21-59) participants with no significant health history will be recruited from the community. Exclusion Criteria Any person with a self-reported history of: * impaired proprioception * significant eye problems * neuromuscular disease * seizure * stroke * unmedicated diabetes * cardiovascular disease (except controlled hypertension) * renal disease or electrolyte imbalance * orthopedic disorders such as severe neck or back pain * uncontrolled high blood pressure (200/110 or greater) * implanted electronic devices (pacemakers, defibrillators, implanted pumps or stimulator devices, cochlear, etc.) * psychotic medications or current psychotic symptoms * Any other psychiatric condition requiring hospitalization since 1991 * recent history of alcohol or drug abuse within the past 6 months * inability to stand unassisted for 30 seconds or walk unassisted for 6 minutes
About the study
The goal of this intervention study is to determine if a new electronic stimulation device, similar to a TENS can improve balance and make walking easier in older individuals with reduced balance function. The main question aims to answer the following:
Can using the device improve walking speed in older individuals?
Participants will be asked to perform a number of tasks while wearing the device:
Walk for 6 minutes
* Stand in place while having balance measured (eyes open and closed) * Stand on a foam block while having balance measured (eyes open and closed) * Sit in a chair that will tilt +/- 20 degrees while wearing goggles that take videos of the participants eyes.
What is being tested
- Subperceptual Stimulus (device)
- Sham Comparator (device)
Sponsor: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Participants: 120 · Started: Sep 25, 2026
Contact the study team
- Jorge M Serrador, PhD · Phone: 6177949341
- Stephanie G Iring-Sanchez, PhD · Phone: 2019701966
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06688578
Locations in the U.S.
| Maryland | Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore (Not yet recruiting) |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.