Whole-Body Vibration Training Compared With Resistance Training: Effect on Spasticity, Muscle Strength and Motor Performance in Adults With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

These data suggest that an 8-week intervention of whole-body vibration training or resistance training can increase muscle strength, without negative effect on spasticity, in adults with cerebral palsy.

Effectiveness of Exercise on Functional Mobility in Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

“…The first study used an unconventional method of whole-body vibration (WBV) in static standing with the intervention group, and the control group participated in resistance training. 17 This study did not demonstrate statistically significant within-group differences when comparing resistance training with WBV (ps ¼ 0.50 and 0.72, respectively). Despite the lack of statistically significant differences, the authors of this study reported that they found clinically significant decreasing spasticity in knee extensors in the WBV group as well as an improvement in the participants' gross motor function.…”

“…18 Three of the studies used participants who were young adults (aged 18-27 y, SD ¼ 2.5), 11,14,15 and three studies used participants ranging from their early 20s to their late 50s. [16][17][18] Participants in two studies had spastic diplegia; 11,17 in one, they had spastic tetraplegia; 14,18 in another, they had bilateral spasticity. 15 Two studies included participants with various types of spasticity.…”

“…Five of the studies were randomized controlled trials with either a treatment and control group 11,14,16 or two different treatment groups. 15,17 All reported control groups received the standard of care for the study or the typical PT intervention for that setting. No true control groups receiving no treatment at all were reported.…”

“…The data reflect mean change scores, SDs, and p values either between groups 11,14-16 or, if these data items were not initially reported, within groups. 17,18 Between-group differences 11,14-16 and within-group differences 17,18 were also calculated, in a manner that was independent of sample size, to reflect the true magnitude of change. These values were interpreted according to Cohen's interpretation of effect size to assess the benefit and magnitude of that benefit in interventions.…”

Balance and Gait Rehabilitation in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

“…This finding suggests that PD may produce a general impairment of proprioceptive guidance and that muscle vibration could be a tool for improving sensorimotor processing. Whole body vibration (WBV) has been demonstrated to be a possible tool to improve balance by enhancing sensorimotor processing in both elderly subjects (Bruyere et al, 2005) and patients with neurological impairment (cerebral palsy, Multiple Sclerosis and stroke) (Ahlborg et al, 2006;Schuhfried et al, 2005;Van Nes et al, 2006). Bruyere et al investigated the effectiveness of WBV intervention in improving gait and balance in a group of forty-two elderly volunteers by means of the Tinetti test, Time Up&Go and the health related QoL (SF-36) (Bruyere et al, 2005).…”