This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Schuhfried, O. Articles by Paternostro-Sluga, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Schuhfried, O. Articles by Paternostro-Sluga, T. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Multiple Sclerosis Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Effects of whole-body vibration in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study

Christian Mittermaier

Tatjana Jovanovic

Karin Pieber

Tatjana Paternostro-Sluga

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, Austria

Objective: To examine whether a whole-body vibration (mechanical oscillations) in comparison to a placebo administration leads to better postural control, mobility and balance in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Design: Double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatient clinic of a university department of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Subjects: Twelve multiple sclerosis patients with moderate disability (Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale 2.5-5) were allocated either to the intervention group or to the placebo group.

Interventions: In the intervention group a whole-body vibration at low frequency (2.0-4.4 Hz oscillations at 3-mm amplitude) in five series of 1 min each with a 1-min break between the series was applied. In the placebo group a Burst-transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) application on the nondominant forearm in five series of 1 min each with a 1-min break between the series was applied as well.

Main outcome measures: Posturographic assessment using the Sensory Organization Test, the Timed Get Up and Go Test and the Functional Reach Test immediately preceding the application, 15 min, one week and two weeks after the application. The statistical analysis was applied to the change score from preapplication values to values 15 min, one week and two weeks post intervention.

Results: Compared with the placebo group the intervention group showed advantages in terms of the Sensory Organization Test and the Timed Get Up and Go Test at each time point of measurement after the application. The effects were strongest one week after the intervention, where significant differences for the change score (p=0.041) were found for the Timed Get Up and Go Test with the mean score reducing from 9.2 s (preapplication) to 8.2 s one week after whole-body vibration and increasing from 9.5 s (preapplication) to 10.2 s one week after placebo application. The mean values of the posturographic assessment increased from 70.5 points (preapplication) to 77.5 points one week after whole body vibration and increased only from 67.2 points (preapplication) to 67.5 points one week after the placebo application. No differences were found for the Functional Reach Test.

Conclusion: The results of this pilot study indicated that whole-body vibration may positively influence the postural control and mobility in multiple sclerosis patients.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 19, No. 8, 834-842 (2005)
DOI: 10.1191/0269215505cr919oa


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. L. Widener, D. D. Allen, and C. Gibson-Horn Randomized Clinical Trial of Balance-Based Torso Weighting for Improving Upright Mobility in People with Multiple Sclerosis Neurorehabil Neural Repair, October 1, 2009; 23(8): 784 - 791. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. N. Mileva, J. L. Bowtell, and A. R. Kossev Effects of low-frequency whole-body vibration on motor-evoked potentials in healthy men Exp Physiol, January 1, 2009; 94(1): 103 - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Wiles Physiotherapy and related activities in multiple sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis, August 1, 2008; 14(7): 863 - 871. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A Moezy, G Olyaei, M Hadian, M Razi, and S Faghihzadeh A comparative study of whole body vibration training and conventional training on knee proprioception and postural stability after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction Br. J. Sports Med., May 1, 2008; 42(5): 373 - 385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. K. Tihanyi, M. Horvath, G. Fazekas, T. Hortobagyi, and J. Tihanyi One session of whole body vibration increases voluntary muscle strength transiently in patients with stroke Clinical Rehabilitation, September 1, 2007; 21(9): 782 - 793. [Abstract] [PDF]