The main goal of our pilot study was to use whole body vibration in a group of randomly selected patients with various neurological disorders and to investigate its influence on the quality of patients' locomotion. Short-time effect was analyzed comparing individual changes in gait kinematics. 17 subjects participated in the study including children and elderly patients. The gait parameters were measured before and after 10 minutes whole body vibration exposure. Amplitude of applied vertical vibrations was 2mm with frequency of 30Hz and the training was realized in standing position. Anatomical joint angles and spatiotemporal parameters obtained before and after training were analyzed and the changes indicated positive effects of whole body vibration. Considering right and left side the gait parameters were more symmetric and depending on the severity of patient's disease these changes were more or less significant. The improvements in gait kinematics after whole body vibration convinced us that this technique can be carefully used in patients' therapy and it may be used together with individually planed rehabilitation processes to bring more satisfying results.

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Abstract-Whole body vibration (WBV) techniques are increasingly applied in rehabilitation processes to improve patients' functional mobility. Therapeutic usage of WBV reported enhanced muscular strength, power or even bone density. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate immediate response of single WBV training unit on mobility of elderly patients with neurological disorders. Nineteen patients (66.74 ± 3.65 years, 6 males and 13 females) were assessed before WBV (10 min, 30 Hz, vertical 2 mm) and then 1 min afterwards. Individual changes in gait kinematics indicated positive effects of WBV, while kinematics of the gait was more symmetric considering right and left side. Individually, depending on the disease's severity, these changes were more or less significant. The improvements in gait kinematics convinced us that WBV can be carefully used in patients' therapy and it may be used together with individually planed rehabilitation processes to bring more satisfying results.

The positive effects of whole-body vibration techniques have already been discussed in many scientific papers all around the world. In addition, the training units integrated into therapeutic and rehabilitation procedures have been considered as beneficial and powerful methods used to improve either mobility or physical status of human beings. Some of the benefits that were already published include enhanced muscular strength, physical power, bone density or blood circulation. However, there is still a lack of evidence proving the significant effects of whole-body vibration in patients, e.g. those with neurological disorders. Therefore, the main objective of our study was to investigate immediate, although short time effect of single whole-body vibration training unit on quality of patients' gait kinematics. Because of the nature of neurological disorders and their negative impacts on patients and families and society too, we decided to analyse this effect in two high risk groups of patients. The first one consisted of elderly patients and the second one of children, both suffering from certain type of neurological disorder. The analysis was based on comparison of individual changes in gait parameters obtained before and after application of whole-body vibration.