Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Maximize Hip Abductor Strength and Reduce Fall Risk in Older Veterans:...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neuromuscular Physiology

Background:

• Older veterans (≥65 years) have higher disability rates and fall risk than the general population.
• Falls and mobility impairments are leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and long-term care admissions.
• Lower extremity muscle weakness, particularly in hip abductors, is a critical risk factor for falls and balance impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test if adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to a multimodality balance intervention (MMBI) improves fall risk, muscle function, and mobility more than MMBI alone.
• To evaluate the efficacy of NMES as an adjunct therapy for fall prevention in older veterans.
• To address a gap in understanding NMES's role in enhancing rehabilitation outcomes for fall prevention.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial enrolling 80 veterans (≥55 years) at risk for falls.
• 12-week, center-based intervention with 3 weekly sessions of either NMES + MMBI or MMBI alone.
• Primary outcomes: fall risk (FSST) and hip abductor strength; Secondary outcomes: muscle composition (CT) and gait variability.

Main Results:

• Study funded Jan 2022, data collection April 2022-Dec 2026.
• As of March 2025, 61 participants enrolled; varying completion rates for follow-up assessments.
• Ongoing enrollment and data collection; preliminary data on participant progress is being gathered.

Conclusions:

• This is the first large RCT evaluating NMES as an adjunct to MMBI for fall prevention in older veterans.
• Successful outcomes could establish NMES as a low-cost, scalable method to reduce falls and healthcare costs.
• The study aims to provide critical evidence on NMES effectiveness in improving balance and mobility in this population.