Retrospective study of effect of whole-body vibration training on balance and walking function in stroke patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND Dysfunction in stroke patients has been a problem that we committed to solve and explore. Physical therapy has some effect to regain strength, balance, and coordination. However, it is not a complete cure, so we are trying to find more effective treatments. AIM To observe the effect of whole-body vibration training (WVT) on the recovery of balance and walking function in stroke patients, which could provide us some useful evidence for planning rehabilitation. METHODS The clinical data of 130 stroke participants who underwent conventional rehabilitation treatment in our hospital from January 2019 to August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The participants were divided into whole-body vibration training (WVT) group and non-WVT (NWVT) group according to whether they were given WVT. In the WVT group, routine rehabilitation therapy was combined with WVT by the Galileo Med L Plus vibration trainer at a frequency of 20 Hz and a vibration amplitude of 0+ACY-plusmn+ADs-5.2 mm, and in the NWVT group, routine rehabilitation therapy only was provided. The treatment course of the two groups was 4 wk. Before and after treatment, the Berg balance scale (BBS), 3 m timed up-and-go test (TUGT), the maximum walking speed test (MWS), and upper limb functional reaching (FR) test were performed. RESULTS After 4 wk training, in both groups, the BBS score and the FR distance respectively increased to a certain amount (WVT = 46.08 ± 3.41 vs NWVT = 40.22 ± 3.75; WVT = 20.48 ± 2.23 vs NWVT = 16.60 ± 2.82), with P < 0.05. Furthermore, in the WVT group, both BBS score and FR distance (BBS: 18.32 ± 2.18; FR: 10.00 ± 0.92) increased more than that in the NWVT group (BBS: 13.29 ± 1.66; FR: 6.16 ± 0.95), with P < 0.05. Meanwhile, in both groups, the TUGT and the MWS were improved after training (WVT = 32.64 ± 3.81 vs NWVT = 39.56 ± 3.68; WVT = 12.73 ± 2.26 vs NWVT = 15.04 ± 2.27, respectively), with P < 0.05. The change in the WVT group (TUGT: 17.49 ± 1.88; MWS: 6.79 ± 0.81) was greater than that in the NWVT group (TUGT: 10.76 ± 1.42; MWS: 4.84 ± 0.58), with P < 0.05. CONCLUSION The WVT could effectively improve the balance and walking function in stroke patients, which may be good for improving their quality of life.

Does whole-body vibration training have a positive effect on balance and walking function in patients with stroke? A meta-analysis

“…After reading the titles and abstracts, 122 studies were selected. Then, after reading the full texts, 98 studies were discarded because they did not meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 22 studies were finally included ( van Nes et al, 2006 ; Brogårdh et al, 2012 ; Chan et al, 2012 ; Guo et al, 2015 ; Choi et al, 2016 , 2017 ; Gu and Hwangbo, 2016 ; Qianhao et al, 2018 ; Lee, 2019 ; Zhanyu et al, 2019 ; Zhen-hua et al, 2019 ; Sade et al, 2020 ; Xin-xin et al, 2020 ; Ijaz Ahmed Burq et al, 2021 ; Jin-Ming et al, 2021 ; Kim and Lee, 2021 ; Xie et al, 2021 ; Yan et al, 2021 ; Chuan et al, 2022 ; Le et al, 2022 ; Wei and Cai, 2022 ; Zhenying et al, 2022 ). The process is shown in Figure 1 .…”

“…A total of 13 studies ( van Nes et al, 2006 ; Brogårdh et al, 2012 ; Gu and Hwangbo, 2016 ; Qianhao et al, 2018 ; Sade et al, 2020 ; Xin-xin et al, 2020 ; Jin-Ming et al, 2021 ; Kim and Lee, 2021 ; Xie et al, 2021 ; Yan et al, 2021 ; Le et al, 2022 ; Wei and Cai, 2022 ; Zhenying et al, 2022 )reported the effect of WBV training on BBS in stroke patients, with substantial heterogeneity among them ( p < 0.001, I 2 = 80%). A random effects model was used to analyze the data (MD = 4.08, 95%CI [2.39, 5.76], p < 0.001; Figure 4 ).…”

“…A total of seven studies ( Chan et al, 2012 ; Guo et al, 2015 ; Zhanyu et al, 2019 ; Ijaz Ahmed Burq et al, 2021 ; Kim and Lee, 2021 ; Xie et al, 2021 ; Chuan et al, 2022 ) reported the effect of WBV on 10MWT in stroke patients, with no-heterogeneity among them ( p = 0.21, I 2 = 29%). A fixed effects model was used to analyze the data (MD = −2.69, 95%CI [−3.35, −2.03], p < 0.001; Figure 6 ).…”

“…A total of 13 studies (van Nes et al, 2006;Brogårdh et al, 2012;Gu and Hwangbo, 2016;Qianhao et al, 2018;Sade et al, 2020;Xin-xin et al, 2020;Jin-Ming et al, 2021;Kim and Lee, 2021;Xie et al, 2021;Yan et al, 2021;Le et al, 2022;Wei and Cai, 2022;Zhenying et al, 2022) Forest plot of the effects of WBV training on BBS.…”

“…A total of 10 studies (Chan et al, 2012;Choi et al, 2016;Gu and Hwangbo, 2016;Sade et al, 2020;Ijaz Ahmed Burq et al, 2021;Jin-Ming et al, 2021;Kim and Lee, 2021;Xie et al, 2021;Chuan et al, 2022;Zhenying et al, 2022)…”