3-week whole body vibration does not improve gait function in mildly affected multiple sclerosis patients-a randomized controlled trial.


Author: Wolfsegger T1, Assar H2, Topakian R3.

Affiliation: 1Department of Neurology, Academic Teaching Hospital Wagner-Jauregg, Linz, Austria. Electronic address: thomas.wolfsegger@gespag.at. 2Department of Neurology, Academic Teaching Hospital Wagner-Jauregg, Linz, Austria. 3Department of Neurology, Academic Teaching Hospital Wagner-Jauregg, Linz, Austria; Department of Neurology, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, Wels, Austria.
Conference/Journal: J Neurol Sci.
Date published: 2014 Sep 26
Other:
 Volume ID: 347   ,  Issue ID: 1-2   ,  Pages: 119-123   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2014.09.030   ,  Word Count: 203  
    

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) training on gait function in persons with mild multiple sclerosis (MS).

DESIGN:

A randomized controlled trial.

SUBJECTS:

18 patients with MS were assigned randomly to WBV (intervention group) or to placebo WBV.

METHODS:

Both groups performed a 3-week training period under static conditions on a vibration platform. In the placebo group, the vibration platform was covered and therefore vibrations could not operate. Gait function (gait velocity, stride length, double support phase, single-step variability left and right) was assessed at baseline, after 3-weeks of WBV intervention or sham WBV, 4-weeks after baseline, and 5-weeks after baseline using a mobile plantar food pressure system and the "Timed Up and Go" test under four different gait conditions (comfortable overground gait, comfortable gait on treadmill, -20% comfortable gait velocity on treadmill and +20% comfortable gait velocity on treadmill).

RESULTS:

None of the outcome measures of gait function showed statistically significant alterations following 3-weeks of intervention/placebo WBV.

CONCLUSION:

The applied protocol of WBV does not show a meaningful improvement of gait function in mildly affected MS patients.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Biomechanical analysis; Gait analysis; Multiple sclerosis; Physical therapy; Spatio-temporal parameters; Whole body vibration

PMID: 25439165