Influence of Whole-Body Vibration Training Without Visual Feedback on Balance and Lower-Extremity Muscle Strength of the Elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of whole-body vibration (WBV) training without visual feedback on balance and lower-extremity muscle strength in the elderly.Elderly subjects who did not exercise regularly participated in this study. Subjects were randomly divided into a WBV with eyes open group, a visual feedback-deprived plus WBV (VFDWBV) group, and a control group (0 Hz, eyes open). WBV training was provided over a 3-month period, 3 times per week for 5 min each session. Balance performance was measured with the limits of stability test, and muscle strength was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer.A total of 45 elderly subjects with an average age of 69.22 ± 3.97 years, divided into a WBV group (n = 14), a VFDWBV group (n = 17), and a control group (n = 14), completed the trial. Statistically significant differences were found in the balance performance of the 3 groups at different time points (time × group interaction: F = 13.213, P < 0.001), and the VFDWBV group had more improvement in balance than the WBV and control groups. The strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles had time × group interactions: F = 29.604, P < 0.001 and F = 4.684, P = 0.015, respectively; the VFDWBV group had more improvement on lower-extremity muscle strength than the WBV and control groups. The 6-month follow-up showed that the rates of hospital visits for medical services due to falls were 0% in the WBV group (0/14), 0% in the VFDWBV group (0/17), and 28.57% in the control group (4/14).Results showed that WBV training at 20 Hz without visual feedback can significantly improve the balance performance and lower-extremity muscle strength of the elderly.

Early Post-Operative Intervention of Whole-Body Vibration in Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study

“…WBV exercises have been widely used for the benefits of pain reduction, muscle strength increase, proprioception, balance and posture control, and functional performance improvement in postmenopausal women and sedentary and older individuals [17,19,34,35,36]. A recent study investigating the effects of WBV in addition to home exercise in female patients with patellofemoral pain also reported decreased pain and improved knee extensor endurance, which may alter lower extremity kinematics and reduce patellofemoral stress [37].…”

“…Low frequency, low amplitude mechanical stimuli using a vibrating platform could stimulate the muscle spindles via tonic vibration reflex and send nerve impulses to increase muscle contraction [15]. Whole body vibration (WBV) exercise has been suggested as an alternative treatment to reduce pain and improve muscle strength, balance, and flexibility in sedentary and older people [16,17,18,19]. In knee OA, the effects of WBV in improving knee pain, quadricep strength, and functional performance remain inconclusive [20,21], however, recent randomized controlled trials provided evidence of additive effects of WBV in increasing knee extensor strength and improving physical functions [22,23,24].…”

Effects of Controlled Whole-Body Vibration Training on Functional Performance Among Healthy Older Adults: A 6-Week Pilot Study

“…Although several studies have examined the effects of WBV in older adults, only four other studies have assessed if WBV benefits can be retained over time (13)(14)(15)(16). These studies assessed performance after a washout period of three weeks, three months, and six months, respectively, and found that participants were not able to sustain WBV training benefits.…”

Doença de Parkinson: efeito da terapia vibratória no recrutamento da musculatura postural

“…Uma nova forma, considerada promissora, de estimulação somatossensorial é a terapia vibratória. A vibração é definida como um movimento oscilatório dependente da frequência, da amplitude, duração e do tipo de vibração, podendo ser potente estímulo para respostas neuromusculares [4,15].…”