Author: Sitjà-Rabert M1, Martínez-Zapata MJ2, Fort Vanmeerhaeghe A3, Rey Abella F4, Romero-Rodríguez D3, Bonfill X5.
Affiliation: 1Blanquerna School of Health Sciences (Universitat Ramon Llull), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mercesr@blanquerna.url.edu. 2Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB Sant Pau), CIBERESP (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mmartinezz@santpau.cat. 3EUSES Health and Sport Sciences School, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain. 4Blanquerna School of Health Sciences (Universitat Ramon Llull), Barcelona, Spain. 5Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB Sant Pau), CIBERESP (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Preventive Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
Conference/Journal: J Am Med Dir Assoc.
Date published: 2014 Oct 1
Other:
Pages: S1525-8610(14)00477-0 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2014.07.018 , Word Count: 373
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the efficacy of an exercise program on a whole-body vibration platform (WBV) in improving body balance and muscle performance and preventing falls in institutionalized elderly people.
DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS:
A multicentre randomized parallel assessor-blinded clinical trial was conducted in elderly persons living in nursing homes.
INTERVENTIONS:
Participants were randomized to an exercise program performed either on a whole body vibratory platform (WBV plus exercise group) or on a stationary surface (exercise group). The exercise program for both groups consisted of static and dynamic exercises (balance and strength training over a 6-week training period of 3 sessions per week). The frequency applied on the vibratory platform was 30 to 35 Hz and amplitude was 2 to 4 mm.
MEASUREMENTS:
The primary outcome measurement was static/dynamic body balance. Secondary outcomes were muscle strength and number of falls. Efficacy was analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis and per protocol. The effects of the intervention were evaluated using the t test, Mann-Whitney test, or chi-square test, depending on the type of outcome. Follow-up measurements were collected 6 weeks and 6 months after randomization.
RESULTS:
A total of 159 participants from 10 centers were included: 81 in the WBV plus exercise group and 78 in the control group. Mean age was 82 years, and 67.29% were women. The Tinetti test score showed a significant overall improvement in both groups (P < .001). No significant differences were found between groups at week 6 (P = .890) or month 6 (P = .718). The Timed Up and Go test did not improve (P = .599) in either group over time, and no significant differences were found between groups at week 6 (P = .757) or month 6 (P = .959). Muscle performance results from the 5 Sit-To-Stand tests improved significantly across time (P = .001), but no statistically significant differences were found between groups at week 6 (P = .709) or month 6 (P = .841). A total of 57 falls (35.8%) were recorded during the follow-up period, with no differences between groups (P = .406).
CONCLUSION:
Exercise program on a vibratory platform provides benefits similar to those with exercise program on a stationary surface in relation to body balance, gait, functional mobility, and muscle strength in institutionalized elderly people. Longer studies in larger samples are needed to assess falls.
Copyright © 2014 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Institutionalized older people; balance; falls; muscle performance; whole-body vibration
PMID: 25282631