EFFECTS OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION TRAINING IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE COPD.

Author: Pleguezuelos E, Pérez ME, Guirao L, Samitier B, Costea M, Ortega P, González MV, Del Carmen VA, Ovejero L, Moreno E, Miravitlles M.
Affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Mataró Hospital, Mataró, Spain; Department of Experimental Science and Healthcare, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences Blanquerna, University Ramón LLull, Barcelona, Spain.
Conference/Journal: Respirology.
Date published: 2013 May 21
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1111/resp.12122. , Word Count: 245



BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:
To determine if whole body vibration training (WBVT) improves muscular force and modifies functional capacity parameters in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
METHODS:
We performed a randomised controlled trial in the out-patient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of a general hospital. Sixty stable male patients with COPD and mean FEV1 34.3% (predicted) were enrolled with 51 patients completing the study. Participants were randomised into two groups: Whole Body Vibration Training Group (WBVTG), (n=26) undergoing 3 sessions per week for a total of 6 weeks and a Control Group (CG) (n=25) without intervention. The main outcome measures were isokinetic knee flexor and extensor testing in a concentric-concentric regime and exercise capacity measured by the 6-minute walking test (6MWT). Secondary outcomes were pulmonary muscular assessment with maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP).
RESULTS:
No significant differences were observed between groups in maximum moment of isokinetic knee flexor/extensor testing force in a concentric-concentric regime. In contrast, WBVTG patients showed a significant increase in the 6MWT (81.2±9.2) meters; mean±SD; p <0.001). There was also a significant decrease in maximum oxygen desaturation in the 6MWT after 6 weeks of training (3.1±1.1; p=0.01). There were significant differences between groups in MIP and MEP at the end of the study in favour of the WBVTG.
CONCLUSIONS:
WBVT provided significant improvements in functional capacity in severe COPD patients without changes in muscular force.
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PMID: 23692550 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]