Focal Muscle Vibration Improves Gait in Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Randomized, Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background In Parkinson's disease (PD), gait disorders lead to increased risk of falls and patients' reduced participation and independence. Several observations suggest that a single session of focal muscle vibration (fMV) applied to trunk or lower limb muscles during gait may improve several gait variables in patients with PD. The possible long‐term beneficial effects of repetitive sessions of fMV (r‐fMV) on gait of patients with PD have been investigated. Methods A randomized, controlled trial study has been conducted in an outpatient rehabilitation department. Twenty patients with PD diagnosis have been randomized in two groups: “real” or “sham” r‐fMV application to quadriceps and paraspinal muscles in patients with PD. Gait was evaluated with objective gait analysis, and a number of variables, including velocity, step length, stride length, percentage of stance, double support duration, cadence, swing velocity, and step width, have been measured. Gait analysis was performed before and 24 hours and 1 and 3 weeks after r‐fMV. Results After real, but not sham, r‐fMV, patients with PD had significant gait improvement as a result of increased walking velocity and stride length. The r‐fMV‐induced beneficial after effects lasted at least 1 week after the end of stimulation. Conclusions Data emerging from our pilot randomized, controlled trial study suggest that r‐fMV may improve gait disorders in patients with PD. r‐fMV might be a feasible, safe approach for possibly improving gait disorders in patients with PD and might enhance the impact of specific rehabilitation programs in PD.

Improvement of Gait after 4 Weeks of Wearable Focal Muscle Vibration Therapy for Individuals with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

“…The results of this study demonstrated that a four-week intervention of FMV can enhance the spatiotemporal parameters of gait, similar to studies reported for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) [ 38 , 39 ]. Camerota et al [ 38 ] found that after three consecutive days of one 60-min session of FMV per day, patients with PD had increased gait speed, stride length, and step length.…”

“…The results of this study demonstrated that a four-week intervention of FMV can enhance the spatiotemporal parameters of gait, similar to studies reported for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) [ 38 , 39 ]. Camerota et al [ 38 ] found that after three consecutive days of one 60-min session of FMV per day, patients with PD had increased gait speed, stride length, and step length. Camerota et al [ 39 ] also showed that after three consecutive days of one 60-min session of FMV per day patients with MS had significant improvement in gait speed, double limb support, step length, stride length, and cadence.…”

Promoting post-stroke recovery through focal or whole body vibration: criticisms and prospects from a narrative review

“…Another relevant point concerns the putative physiological mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effect induced by vibration protocols. Several studies in animals and in humans have demonstrated that experimental modulation of proprioceptive inputs to the CNS can re-shape cortical mapping in the sensorimotor region, owing to use-dependent plasticity processes [70][71][72][73]. For instance, limb immobilization can deteriorate cortical motor representation of the target body region, reduce cortical excitability, and degrade motor learning [70,71].…”

Variability of Movement Disorders: The Influence of Sensation, Action, Cognition, and Emotions

“…135 In addition, interventions that act mainly on the proprioceptive system, such as vibration to lower extremity or trunk muscles, may improve gait in PD. 13,[136][137][138][139] Tremor Intention tremor may decrease if patients execute a goal-directed movement based on previous knowledge of target position, instead of relying on visual feedback. 21,22,140 This may be useful to reduce tremor in activities that do not critically depend on online visual feedback, for example, shirt buttoning, brushing teeth, or stirring while cooking.…”

“…In addition, interventions that act mainly on the proprioceptive system, such as vibration to lower extremity or trunk muscles, may improve gait in PD 13,136‐139 …”