Effects of Whole Body Vibration in People With Chronic Stroke

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Device: Exercise on the vibration platform with the device turned off; Device: Whole body vibration therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00937339

HSEARS20090520002-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The overall aim of the proposed study is to determine whether whole body vibration is beneficial in promoting bone health, physical fitness and neuromotor performance in patients with chronic stroke.

Subjects in the experimental group will undergo whole body vibration therapy (1 session per day, 3 sessions per week) for 8 weeks. The vibration frequency used in this study will be 30Hz. The total duration of exposure to vibration for the experimental group will be 10 minutes. While standing on the vibration platform, patients will be instructed to repeat the following set of light exercises: (1) light squatting,(2) deep squatting, (3) side-to-side weight-shift, (4) Forward and backward weight-shift, (5) forward lunge, (6) marching on the spot. The control exercise group, on the other hand, will perform the same exercise program on the platform, but no vibration will be given. The training will be conducted by a qualified personnel with physiotherapy background.

The outcome measurement will be performed 4 times: (1) immediately before the commencement of intervention, (2) immediately after termination of treatment, (3) at 1 month after termination of treatment. Each subject will be evaluated for bone markers, leg muscle strength, balance, spasticity, and walking ability.

Enrollment: 82 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• a diagnosis of stroke more than 6 months
• medically stable
• able to understand verbal commands
• Abbreviated mental test score 6 or above
• age >18
• able to stand with or without aids for at least 1.5 minutes

Exclusion criteria

• neurological conditions other than stroke
• significant musculoskeletal conditions (e.g. amputations)
• metal implants in the lower extremity
• previous fracture of the lower extremity
• are currently taking bone resorption inhibitors or were taking the same before stroke.
• significant peripheral vascular disease
• vestibular disorders
• pregnancy
• Other serious illnesses that preclude the person from participating in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

82 participants in 2 patient groups

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group will perform the same exercises on the vibration platform, as in the experimental group. However, the vibration device will be turned off during the exercises.

Treatment:

Device: Exercise on the vibration platform with the device turned off

Whole body vibration

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects in the experimental group will undergo whole body vibration (1 session per day, 3 sessions per week) for 8 weeks. The vibration loading will be carried out using the Jet-Vibe System (Danil SMC Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea). The vibration protocol used in this study will be 30Hz. While standing on the vibration platform, patients will be instructed to repeat the following set of light exercises: (1) light squatting,(2)deep squatting , (3) side-to-side weight-shift, (4) Forward and backward weight-shift, (5) forward lunge, (6) marching on the spot. The total duration of exposure of whole body vibration per session will be about 10 minutes.

Treatment:

Device: Whole body vibration therapy