Effects of supervised whole body vibration exercise on fall risk factors, functional dependence and health-related quality of life in nursing home residents aged 80+


Author: Alvarez-Barbosa F1, Del Pozo-Cruz J2, Del Pozo-Cruz B3, Alfonso-Rosa RM1, Rogers ME4, Zhang Y3.

Affiliation: 1Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Seville, Seville, Spain. 2Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Seville, Seville, Spain. Electronic address: jpozo2@us.es. 3Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 4Department of Human Performance Studies, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, USA.
Conference/Journal: Maturitas. 
Date published: 2014 Dec
Other:
 Volume ID: 79   ,  Issue ID: 4   ,  Pages: 456-463   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.09.010   ,  Word Count: 207  
    

OBJECTIVE:

To test the feasibility and effectiveness of whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy on fall risk, functional dependence and health-related quality of life in nursing home residents aged 80+ years.

DESIGN:

Twenty-nine 80-95 years old volunteers, nursing home residents were randomized to an eight-week WBV intervention group) (n=15) or control group (n=14). Functional mobility was assessed using the timed up and go (TUG) test. Lower limb performance was evaluated using the 30-s Chair Sit to Stand (30-s CSTS) test. Postural stability was measured using a force platform. The Barthel Index was used to assess functional dependence and the EuroQol (EQ-5D) was used to evaluate Health-Related Quality of Life. All outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at a follow-up after 8 weeks.

RESULTS:

At the 8-week follow up, TUG test (p<0.001), 30-s CSTS number of times (p=0.006), EQ-5Dmobility (p<0.001), EQ-5DVAS (p<0.014), EQ-5Dutility (p<0.001) and Barthel index (p=0.003) improved in the WBV intervention group when compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

An 8-week WBV-based intervention in a nursing home setting is effective in reducing fall risk factors and quality of life in nursing home residents aged 80+.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Aged; Nursing home; Quality of life; Whole-body vibration

PMID: 25449826