Effect of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Muscle Activation for Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis

Author: Juan Zhang1, Rui Wang2, Yili Zheng2, Jiao Xu1, Ya Wu1, Xueqiang Wang1,2
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, 200438 Shanghai, China. <sup>2</sup> Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, 200438 Shanghai, China.
Conference/Journal: Biomed Res Int
Date published: 2021 Mar 26
Other: Volume ID: 2021 , Pages: 6671390 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1155/2021/6671390. , Word Count: 230


Whole-body vibration (WBV) training may improve the strength of lower extremity muscles in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but the inconsistency in vibration parameters leads to differences in findings. This cross-sectional study is aimed at observing the effects of different vibration frequencies and knee flexion angles on the activation of lower extremity muscles in patients with KOA. Enrolled participants received WBV training at 0, 30, and 60° knee flexion angles with vibration frequencies of 0, 5, 10, and 20 Hz. Activation rates for vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus in different combinations were collected through surface electromyography. The effects of frequency and angle on muscle activation rate were quantified by repeated measures ANOVA. Individual and synergistic effects of frequency and angle were also analysed. Twenty-six participants with KOA were included. Muscle activation increased with the vibration frequency in 0-20 Hz range and with knee flexion angle in 0-60° range. WBV training at 20 Hz was the most effective for knee muscle activation, and static squatting at 60° was the most suitable for WBV training. Therefore, WBV training can increase the activation rate of knee flexor and extensor muscles in patients with KOA, and the most efficient combination was 20 Hz vibration frequency and 60° knee flexion. When applying WBV to patients with KOA, individual differences and rehabilitation purposes should be considered in selecting vibration parameters and knee angle to effectively increase neuromuscular activity.


PMID: 33855078 PMCID: PMC8019384 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6671390