Whole-body vibration impedes the deterioration of postural control in patients with multiple sclerosis.


Author: Krause A1, Lee K2, Freyler K2, Bührer T2, Gollhofer A2, Ritzmann R3

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany; Institute of Training and Computer Science, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: a.krause@dshs-koeln.de.

<sup>2</sup>Department of Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany.

<sup>3</sup>Department of Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany; Department of Biomechanics, Praxisklinik Rennbahn, Switzerland.
Conference/Journal: Mult Scler Relat Disord.
Date published: 2019 Apr 3
Other:
 Volume ID: 31   ,  Pages: 134-140   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.03.026. [Epub ahead of print]   ,  Word Count: 212  
    OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate if whole-body vibration (WBV) might attenuate the processing functional and neuromuscular degeneration of postural control in patients with MS.



DESIGN: Performance in postural control was assessed before and after 6 weeks of a control (CON) and a WBV intervention period.



SETTING: Laboratory at the University of Freiburg & home-based training PARTICIPANTS: Out of 29 interested participants, 15 subjects with severe MS fit inclusion criteria.



MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Centre of pressure displacement (COP), muscle activity and co-contraction indices of m. soleus (SOL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), tibialis anterior (TA), biceps (BF) and rectus femoris (RF) as well as SOL H/M-ratios.



RESULTS: After CON, COP was significantly enhanced with reduced muscle activity in RF and diminished shank muscle co-contraction. After WBV, no changes were observed in COP and neuromuscular control. However, over time, TA activity was reduced, but with no changes in muscle activation of SOL, GM and BF or H/M-ratios.



CONCLUSIONS: After CON, MS patients experienced substantial deteriorations in postural control which have previously been associated with greater postural instability. No further disease-associated deteriorations were observed following the intervention. Thus, WBV might alleviate neurodegeneration of postural control in people with MS.



Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.



KEYWORDS: Balance; H-reflex; Intervention; Rehabilitation; Skeletal muscle



PMID: 30991299  DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.03.026