Effect of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Selected Intrinsic Risk Factors in Women Aged 60+ at Fall Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial


Author: Agnieszka Nawrat-Szołtysik1, Marta Sieradzka2, Marta Nowacka-Chmielewska3, Laura Piejko1, Julia Duda2, Anna Brachman4, Anna Polak1

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Institute of Physiotherapy and Health Sciences, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland.

<sup>2</sup> Doctoral School, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland.

<sup>3</sup> Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Physiotherapy and Health Sciences, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland.

<sup>4</sup> Institute of Sport Sciences, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland.
Conference/Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health
Date published: 2022 Dec 19
Other:
 Volume ID: 19   ,  Issue ID: 24   ,  Pages: 17066   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/ijerph192417066.   ,  Word Count: 200  
    The aim of the study was to determine whether Whole Body Vibration Training (WBVT) affects intrinsic risk factors for falls in women aged 60+ at fall risk.



Design:

Randomized controlled clinical trial. Blinding was applied to the persons in charge of evaluating the intervention's clinical results and statistical analysis.



Methods:

Forty-two women over 60 years old were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG-12-week WBVT; n = 22) and a control group (CG-no additional physical activities; n = 20). Fear of falling was measured by the FES-I questionnaire, gait and dynamic balance using the Time-Up and Go test (TUG), aerobic endurance with the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and the functional strength of the lower body muscles with the 30-s Chair Stand Test (30SCST) at baseline and post-intervention. Additionally assayed were participants' blood concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6).



Results:

The 12-week WBVT improves gait and balance (TUG, p = 0.009), exercise tolerance (6MWT, p = 0.001), and functional strength (30SCST; p = 0.027) but does not reduce the intensity of fear of falling (FES-I, p = 0.655) and the IL-6 serum concentration (p = 0.377).



Conclusions:

WBVT affects selected fall risk factors in women aged 60+ at fall risk.



Keywords: 30SCST; 6MWT; FES-I; IL-6; TUG; WBVT; body imbalance; geriatric rehabilitation; risk of falling.



PMID: 36554961 PMCID: PMC9779491 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192417066