Segmental muscle vibration modifies muscle activation during reaching in chronic stroke: A pilot study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Segmental muscle vibration (SMV) improves motor performances in neurological conditions, including stroke. OBJECTIVE: To determine if SMV modifies upper limb muscular activity in chronic stroke patients performing a reaching movement. METHODS: We randomized 22 chronic stroke patients to an experimental group (EG; n = 12), receiving 10 sessions of exercise + 120 Hz SMV over the biceps brachii (BB) and the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscles, or to a control group (CG; n = 10) receiving exercise only. All subjects performed a reaching movement with the affected side before and 4 weeks after therapy ended. We recorded surface EMG activity of the anterior deltoid (AD), posterior deltoid (PD), BB, triceps brachii (TB), FCU and extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscles. We calculated muscular onset times, modulation ratio, co-contractions and degree of contraction. RESULTS: After SMV, onset times of the PD (p = 0.03), BB (p = 0.02) and ECR (p = 0.04) in the EG were less anticipated than at baseline; the modulation ratio increased in AD (p = 0.003) and BB (p = 0.01); co-contractions decreased in the pairs BB/TB (p = 0.007), PD/BB (p = 0.004) and AD/BB (p = 0.01); and the degree of contraction decreased in BB (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The modulation of muscular function induced by SMV may aid to explain its action on smoothness and coordination of movements.

Effectiveness of focal muscle vibration on hemiplegic upper extremity spasticity in individuals with stroke: A systematic review

“…Three studies investigated FMV versus conventional physiotherapy (CPT) (Annino et al, 2019, Tavernese et al, 2013, Casale et al, 2014, two examined FMV versus placebo (Caliandro et al, 2012, Costantino et al, 2016, one investigated FMV versus CPT (Celletti et al, 2017), one examined FMV versus (placebo + CPT) (Paoloni et al, 2014), and one studied FMV versus stretching (control 1) and rest (control 2) (Noma et al, 2012).…”

“…The experimental interventions were FMV (Celletti et al, 2017, Caliandro et al, 2012, Noma et al, 2012, Costantino et al, 2016 or (FMV + CPT) (Annino et al, 2019, Tavernese et al, 2013, Paoloni et al, 2014, Casale et al, 2014. In terms of the treatment frequency, the frequency of treatment reneged from two (Celletti et al, 2017), to three (Annino et al, 2019, Caliandro et al, 2012, Costantino et al, 2016 or five (Tavernese et al, 2013, Paoloni et al, 2014, Casale et al, 2014 times per week.…”

“…The experimental interventions were FMV (Celletti et al, 2017, Caliandro et al, 2012, Noma et al, 2012, Costantino et al, 2016 or (FMV + CPT) (Annino et al, 2019, Tavernese et al, 2013, Paoloni et al, 2014, Casale et al, 2014. In terms of the treatment frequency, the frequency of treatment reneged from two (Celletti et al, 2017), to three (Annino et al, 2019, Caliandro et al, 2012, Costantino et al, 2016 or five (Tavernese et al, 2013, Paoloni et al, 2014, Casale et al, 2014 times per week. In terms of treatment protocol duration, the duration of the treatment protocol was one week (Caliandro et al, 2012), two weeks (Tavernese et al, 2013, Paoloni et al, 2014, Casale et al, 2014, four weeks (Costantino et al, 2016), six weeks (Celletti et al, 2017), or eight weeks (Annino et al, 2019).…”

“…In terms of the treatment frequency, the frequency of treatment reneged from two (Celletti et al, 2017), to three (Annino et al, 2019, Caliandro et al, 2012, Costantino et al, 2016 or five (Tavernese et al, 2013, Paoloni et al, 2014, Casale et al, 2014 times per week. In terms of treatment protocol duration, the duration of the treatment protocol was one week (Caliandro et al, 2012), two weeks (Tavernese et al, 2013, Paoloni et al, 2014, Casale et al, 2014, four weeks (Costantino et al, 2016), six weeks (Celletti et al, 2017), or eight weeks (Annino et al, 2019). One study involved only one session (Noma et al, 2012).…”

“…About 28.73% of which were females were included in all studies, the mean age for all patients was 60 years old. Six studies included chronic stroke patients (>12 months) (Annino et al, 2019, Caliandro et al, 2012, Tavernese et al, 2013, Paoloni et al, 2014, Noma et al, 2012, Costantino et al, 2016, and one included acute stroke patients (Celletti et al, 2017), while one did not provide sufficient information about the stage of stroke (Casale et al, 2014). Table 2 shows patient characteristics for the included studies.…”