Cardiovascular Stress Induced by Whole-Body Vibration Exercise in Individuals With Chronic Stroke.

Author: Liao LR1, Ng GY2, Jones AY3, Pang MY4.
Affiliation:
1L.R. Liao, MPT, Department of Physiotherapy, Guangdong Provincial Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, Guangzhou, China, and Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. 2G.Y.F. Ng, PhD, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 3A.Y.M. Jones, PhD, School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. 4M.Y.C. Pang, PhD, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
Conference/Journal: Phys Ther.
Date published: 2015 Jan 15
Other: Word Count: 274


Abstract
BACKGROUND:
While whole-body vibration (WBV) has sparked tremendous research interest in neurorehabilitation, the cardiovascular responses to WBV in people with stroke remains unknown.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the acute effect of different WBV protocols on oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), blood pressure (BP), and rate-pressure product (RPP) during the performance of six different exercises among people with chronic stroke (time since onset ≥6 months).
DESIGN:
Repeated measures design.
METHODS:
Each of the 48 participants experienced all three WBV protocols in separate sessions: (1) no WBV, (2) low-intensity WBV [peak acceleration: 0.96 unit of gravitational constant (G)], and (3) high-intensity WBV (1.61G). The order in which they encountered the WBV protocols was randomized, as was the order of exercises performed during each session. VO2, HR and RPE were measured throughout. BP and RPP were measured before and after each session.
RESULTS:
Low-intensity and high-intensity WBV induced significantly higher VO2 by an average of 0.69 and 0.79ml/kg/min respectively (P≤0.001) than the control condition. These protocols also increased HR by an average of 4 beats per minute (P≤0.05). The two WBV protocols induced higher RPE than the control condition during static standing exercise only (P≤0.001). While the diastolic and systolic BP and RPP were increased at the end of each exercise session (P≤0.001), the addition of WBV had no significant effect on these variables (P>0.05).
LIMITATIONS:
The results are only generalizable to ambulatory and community-dwelling people with chronic stroke.
CONCLUSIONS:
Addition of high- and low-intensity WBV significantly increased the VO2 and HR, but the increase was modest. WBV thus should not pose any substantial cardiovascular hazard in people with chronic stroke.
© 2015 American Physical Therapy Association.
PMID: 25592188

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