Boosting spinal cord signals to improve balance and walking in older adults
Upregulating spinal circuits to enhance balance and walking and to increase spinal excitability in older adults
A gentle, non-invasive spinal stimulation used with balance exercises aims to help people 65 and older walk and keep their balance better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174490 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would come to clinic for several sessions of dynamic balance training while a painless transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) is applied through pads on the skin over your lower spine. About 30 people aged 65 and older will take part in this multi-session trial, and the team will compare real stimulation with sham to see any differences. The researchers will measure walking, balance, everyday function, and spinal cord excitability before and after the training. The plan is to learn whether adding spinal stimulation helps older adults learn and keep balance skills better than training alone.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are ambulatory adults aged 65 or older who have mild-to-moderate balance or walking difficulties and can attend multiple in-person clinic sessions.
Not a fit: People with major neurological disease, implanted electrical devices (like pacemakers), active skin problems over the spine, or those unable to participate in repeated training sessions may not be eligible or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve walking and balance for older adults and reduce fall risk during everyday activities.
How similar studies have performed: Early pilot studies show spinal stimulation can change spinal excitability and motor function, but multi-session tsDCS combined with balance training in older adults is largely new and not yet proven at scale.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hwang, Jungyun — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Hwang, Jungyun
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.