Whole-body vibration training improves balance control and sit-to-stand performance among middle-aged and older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, Jul 2017

Background Aging is associated with decreased balance, which increases falling risk. The objective of the current study was to determine the feasibility and effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training on knee extensor muscle power, limits of stability, and sit-to-stand performance among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Methods A randomized pilot study with participant blinding was conducted. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and compliance rate. Twenty-nine community-dwelling older adults were randomly assigned to perform body-weight exercises with either an individualized vibration frequency and amplitude, a fixed vibration frequency and amplitude, or no vibration. Isokinetic knee extensor power, limits of stability, and sit-to-stand tests were conducted before beginning the exercises (baseline) and after 8 weeks of training. Results With a favorable recruitment rate (58%) and compliance rates (attrition 9%; adherence 85%), the intervention was deemed feasible. The limits of stability endpoint excursion score for the individualized frequency–amplitude group was increased by 8.8 (12.9%; P = 0.025) after training, and that group’s maximum excursion score was increased by 9.2 (11.5%; P = 0.006) after training. The average weight transfer time score was significantly decreased by 0.2 s in the fixed group. The participants in the individualized group demonstrated a significant increase (3.2%) in weight rising index score after 8 weeks of WBV training. Conclusions WBV training is feasible for use with elderly people, and this study achieved good recruitment and compliance. The present paper suggests that 8 weeks of WBV training improves limits of stability and sit-to-stand performance. Future studies must determine whether WBV training improves other factors that affect posture control. Trial registration This study was registered at the Texas Woman’s University Institutional Review Board [TWU IRB 17632] on the 3rd of November 2014.

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Whole-body vibration training improves balance control and sit-to-stand performance among middle-aged and older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Ko et al. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity Whole-body vibration training improves balance control and sit-to-stand performance among middle-aged and older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial Ming-Chen Ko 0 2 Long-Shan Wu 1 Sangwoo Lee 2 Chien-Chun Wang 0 Po-Fu Lee 0 3 Ching-Yu Tseng 0 Chien-Chang Ho 0 0 Department of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University , No. 510 Zhongzheng Road, Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City 24205 , Taiwan 1 Graduate Institute of Sports Training, University of Taipei , Taipei City 11153 , Taiwan 2 Department of Kinesiology, Texas Woman's University , Denton, TX 762 , USA 3 Graduate Institute of Sport Coaching Science, Chinese Culture University , Taipei City 11114 , Taiwan Background: Aging is associated with decreased balance, which increases falling risk. The objective of the current study was to determine the feasibility and effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training on knee extensor muscle power, limits of stability, and sit-to-stand performance among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Methods: A randomized pilot study with participant blinding was conducted. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and compliance rate. Twenty-nine community-dwelling older adults were randomly assigned to perform body-weight exercises with either an individualized vibration frequency and amplitude, a fixed vibration frequency and amplitude, or no vibration. Isokinetic knee extensor power, limits of stability, and sit-to-stand tests were conducted before beginning the exercises (baseline) and after 8 weeks of training. Results: With a favorable recruitment rate (58%) and compliance rates (attrition 9%; adherence 85%), the intervention was deemed feasible. The limits of stability endpoint excursion score for the individualized frequencyamplitude group was increased by 8.8 (12.9%; P = 0.025) after training, and that group's maximum excursion score was increased by 9.2 (11.5%; P = 0.006) after training. The average weight transfer time score was significantly decreased by 0.2 s in the fixed group. The participants in the individualized group demonstrated a significant increase (3.2%) in weight rising index score after 8 weeks of WBV training. Conclusions: WBV training is feasible for use with elderly people, and this study achieved good recruitment and compliance. The present paper suggests that 8 weeks of WBV training improves limits of stability and sit-to-stand performance. Future studies must determine whether WBV training improves other factors that affect posture control. Whole-body vibration training; Postural control; Balance; Limits of stability; Sit-to-stand test - Trial registration: This study was registered at the Texas Woman’s University Institutional Review Board [TWU IRB 17632] on the 3rd of November 2014. Background One-third of community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or older and approximately half of institutionalized people aged 80 years or older experience a fall each year [ 1 ]. Evidence also suggests that falling sideways from a standing position and landing on the trochanter region is strongly related to hip fracture [ 2 ]. Ten to 15 % of falls result in injury or head trauma [ 3 ]; although only approximately 1% of falls cause hip fractures, more than 90% of hip fractures are due to a fall [ 4 ]. Therefore, falls should not be considered random events or accidents. Impairment of muscle strength and power of the lower extremities, balance/postural control, and of the walking ability are known to be substantial risk factors for falls, and these parameters have been found to become progressively more impaired with aging [ 2, 5 ]. Therefore exercise should be generally accepted to effectively improve muscle strength, balance, and walking ability for the prevention of falls in older adults. Whole-body vibration (WBV) training is a neuromuscular training modality that is used for strength training [ 6, 7 ]. In recent years, a systematic review and metaanalysis study conducted by Rogan et al. [8] reported that WBV has been introduced as a training method to improve muscle power and strength in older adults. Tonic vibration reflex (TVR) is the most commonly accepted theory explaining the beneficial effects of WBV training on exercise performance and balance [ 9 ]. The mechanical stimuli generated by vibration platforms are transmitted to the body and stimulate muscle spindles. This activates alpha motor neurons, which then causes reflexive muscle contractions [ 9, 10 ]. Increased muscle activity during WBV has been demonstrated using electromyography (EMG). For example, Hazell, Jakobi, and Kenno [11] reported that EMG activity was higher during the performance of dynamic semi-squats when WBV was involved than when it was not. Delecluse et al. [ 6 ] compared the effects of WBV and resistance training on muscle strength, and found that 12 weeks of WBV (vertical sinusoidal vibration, (...truncated)


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Ming-Chen Ko, Long-Shan Wu, Sangwoo Lee, Chien-Chun Wang, Po-Fu Lee, Ching-Yu Tseng, Chien-Chang Ho. Whole-body vibration training improves balance control and sit-to-stand performance among middle-aged and older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial, European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 2017, pp. 11, Volume 14, Issue 1, DOI: 10.1186/s11556-017-0180-8