Efeito agudo da eletroestimulação transcutânea auricular do nervo vago no controle postural de pessoas vivendo com HIV: um ensaio clínico controlado

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the acute effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on postural control in people living with HIV. Methods: Randomized clinical trial, cross-over and double blind, composed by 22 men (age: 36.6±10.0) and 8 women (age: 51.4 ± 7.75), physically inactive, living with HIV and using antiretroviral therapy. For the transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, a TENS device was used, with modified electrodes, whose stimulation was performed between the evaluations of the Postural Control, for which a triaxial force platform was used, with the participants in the erect bipedal stance. Results: In pre and post analysis of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, under Sham and Active conditions, no significant differences were observed for postural control in the time domain variables. Regarding the postural control variables, BMI showed relevance between 27% and 35% for men and women, and time of infection showed relevance between 68% and 85% for men and women. Conclusion: It is concluded that the transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, when performed acutely, does not promote significant changes in the postural control parameters of individuals living with HIV. Furthermore, the results make it evident that the action of HIV, over time, can favor the decline of postural control parameters in adults living with HIV.