Non-Implantable Prosthetic Devices to Stabilize Posture and Body Balance

This is a narrative review that explores the development of non-implantable vestibular devices designed to address postural instability, particularly in aging populations and patients with vestibular hypofunction. It establishes that balance relies on complex sensory integration and that the functional decline of this system creates a significant medical need. Three principal technological strategies are examined: sensory substitution devices, galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), and immersive visual feedback systems. Sensory substitution devices, which convert balance data into auditory, tactile, or electrotactile cues, demonstrate significant promise. Examples like vibrotactile belts provide feedback that reduces postural sway, enhancing stability and patient confidence. Parallel to this, GVS—using electrical currents applied to the mastoids—emerges as a potent non-invasive method to modulate vestibular pathways, improving balance control and even inducing neuroplastic changes, especially with stochastic “noisy” signals. The most recently developed devices include augmented and virtual reality technologies that offer innovative visual feedback, creating enriched rehabilitation environments that accelerate recovery by promoting sensory reweighting and neural adaptation. This review concludes that while implantable prostheses are advancing, non-invasive devices offer versatile, affordable, and complementary solutions for balance restoration. The future success of non-invasive alternatives hinges on developing more sophisticated stimulation protocols that account for the complexity of natural movement and individual patient contexts, expanding therapeutic options for vestibular disorders.