The Impact of Whole Body Vibration Therapy on Spasticity and Disability of the Patients with Poststroke Hemiplegia

Abstract

Objective To determine if whole body vibration therapy (WBV) effectively improves functional outcome in patients with poststroke hemiplegia. Materials and Methods In this single-blind RCT, WBV group (n = 10) had 40 hz frequency/4 mm amplitude vibration during 5 minutes/session, 3 days a week, for a duration of 4 weeks. The control group (n = 11) had no vibration therapy for the same duration while standing on the same platform. Patients in both of the groups did 15 minutes of stretching and active range of motion exercises before the intervention. Outcome measures were Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Functional Independence Measurement (FIM), and Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (10 mWT). Results Only 10 mWT improved at the 1st week (p = 0.002), 1st month (p < 0.001), and 3rd month (p < 0.001) in favor of the intervention group. There was positive correlation also between 10 mWT and ankle spasticity (p < 0.001, r = 0.931). Conclusion This study suggests that WBV therapy may be a complementary therapy in gait rehabilitation and functional outcome of the patients with calf muscle spasticity.

Long-Term Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on Human Gait: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The sample size ranged from 14 to 159 participants, with a mean age of 60.9 ± 20.0 years, varying from 7.9 years to 83.2 years. With regard to the adult population, 16 studies evaluated the effects of WBV in the elderly ( n = 59.8 ± 35.4 subjects) (9, 30–32, 36, 40, 44, 45, 50, 53, 55, 56, 59, 62, 64, 69), four in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ( n = 42.5 ± 16.7 subjects) (57, 61, 65, 71), seven in patients with stroke ( n = 46.1 ± 27.2 subjects) (28, 35, 38, 51, 54, 67, 72), four in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) ( n = 32.2 ± 11.9 subjects) (29, 33, 63, 68), three in postmenopausal women ( n = 40.3 ± 12.5 subjects) (48, 58, 66), two in patients with multiple sclerosis ( n = 29.5 ± 6.3 subjects) (34, 39) and one in patients with the following pathologies: incomplete cervical spinal injury (47), pulmonary arterial hypertension (42), lung transplantation (43), idiopathic Parkinson's disease (41), total knee arthroplasty (49) and cerebral palsy (27) ( n = 30.0 ± 26.4 subjects). With regard to the child population, two studies evaluated the effects of WBV in cerebral palsy (37, 60), one in patients with osteogenesis imperfect (46) and one in patients with spastic diplegia or quadriplegia forms of cerebral palsy (52) ( n = 22.5 ± 5.9 subjects).…”

“…Seven studies examined the effect of WBV on stroke patients (28, 35, 38, 51, 54, 67, 72) with an average PEDro score of 7.2 ± 1.7. The sample size ranged from 21 to 84 participants with a mean age of 58.3 ± 4.5 years.…”

“…The training duration varied from 4 to 8 weeks. In four studies, subjects performed three sessions per week (28, 51, 54, 72), while patients had five sessions per week in two studies (38, 67), and two sessions per week in one study (35). The frequency and amplitude of platform vibrations varied from 20 to 40 Hz and 0.44 to 5 mm, respectively.…”

“…The intensity was progressively increased in two studies (51, 72). Three studies used side-alternating vibrations (38, 67, 72), three synchronous vibrations (35, 51, 54), while one did not mention the type of vibrations (28). The number of vibration bouts delivered per session varied from 2 to 135 sets with a period lasting from 10 to 150 s each.…”

“…Resting time was between 3 and 60 s. In four protocols (28, 35, 38, 67), the subjects maintained a static position, performed dynamic exercises in two studies (51, 72) and both types of exercises in one study (54). The TUG test was assessed in three studies (35, 38, 54), the 6MWT in three studies (35, 51, 54) and the 10MWT in two (28, 51). Only one study used a biomechanical methodology to assess gait function (72) and one study used the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) scale (67).…”