Effect of 10-Week Whole-Body Vibration Training on Falls and Physical Performance in Older Adults: A Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial with 1-Year Follow-Up


Author: Harri Sievänen1, Maarit Piirtola1, Kari Tokola1, Tanja Kulmala1, Eerika Tiirikainen1, Pekka Kannus1, Juha Kiiski2, Kirsti Uusi-Rasi1, Saija Karinkanta1

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> The UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, FI-33500 Tampere, Finland.

<sup>2</sup> Department of Musculoskeletal Surgery and Diseases, Tampere University Hospital, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland.
Conference/Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health
Date published: 2024 Jul 2
Other:
 Volume ID: 21   ,  Issue ID: 7   ,  Pages: 866   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/ijerph21070866.   ,  Word Count: 329  
    Whole-body vibration training (WBV) training has shown positive effects on bone strength, muscle strength, and balance, but the evidence on fall prevention is not yet persuasive. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of WBV training in preventing falls and improving physical performance among older adults at fall risk. The study was an assessor- and participant-blinded, randomized, and controlled 10-week training trial with a 10-month follow-up. One hundred and thirty older adults (mean age 78.5 years, 75% women) were randomly allocated into the WBV group (n = 68) and the low-intensity wellness group (n = 62). Falls were prospectively collected using monthly returned and verified diaries. Physical performance was evaluated at baseline before randomization, after the intervention, and follow-up with established methods. The data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate the incidence rate ratios for falls, and Cox regression models were used to calculate the hazard ratios for fallers. Between-group differences in physical performance were estimated by generalized linear mixed models. The retention rate was 93%, and the mean adherence to the WBV training was 88% and 86% to the wellness training. Sixty-eight participants fell at least once, and there were 156 falls in total. In the WBV group, the incidence rate of falls was 1.5 (95% confidence interval 0.9 to 2.5) compared to the wellness group (p = 0.11). The hazard ratio for fallers in the WBV group was 1.29 (0.78 to 2.15) (p = 0.32). There was no between-group difference in physical performance after the training period, but by the end of the follow-up, WBV-related benefits appeared. The chair-rising capacity was maintained in the WBV group, while the benefit disappeared in the wellness group (p = 0.004). Also, the 0.5-point difference in short physical performance battery (SPPB) score favored WBV training (p = 0.009). In conclusion, progressive side-alternating WBV training was feasible and well-tolerated among fall-prone older adults. During the one-year follow-up, WBV training was associated with improved physical performance but did not prevent falls compared to chair-based group exercises.



Keywords: exercise; fall risk; fractures; muscle strength; physical functioning; prevention.



PMID: 39063443 PMCID: PMC11276669 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21070866