Abstract
Objective
To investigate the feasibility and benefits of whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise
as a safe and effective training tool for countering sarcopenia and age-related declines
in mobility and function in the frail elderly.
Design
An open, randomized controlled trial.
Setting
Residential care facilities.
Participants
Male and female volunteers (N=117; 82.5±7.9y).
Interventions
After prescreening for contraindications, participants were randomly allocated to
a control, simulated WBV (SIM), or WBV exercise group. All participants received regular
care, whereas WBV and SIM participants also underwent thrice-weekly exercise sessions
for 16 weeks. Delivered by overload principle, WBV training began with 5 × 1-minute
bouts at 6 Hz/2 mm (1:1 min exercise:rest), progressing to 10 × 1 minute at up to
26 Hz/4 mm, maintaining knee flexion. Training for SIM participants mimicked WBV exercise
stance and duration only.
Main Outcome Measures
The timed Up and Go, Parallel Walk, and 10-m Timed Walk (10mTW) tests performance
were assessed, in addition to the Barthel Index Questionnaire, at baseline, 8, and
16 weeks of exercise, and 3, 6, and 12 months postexercise.
Results
High levels of compliance were reported in SIM (89%) and WBV training (93%), with
ease of use and no adverse effects. In comparison to baseline levels, WBV training
elicited clinically important treatment effects in all parameters compared to SIM
and control groups. Treatment effects remained apparent up to 12 months postintervention
for Parallel Walk Test and 6 months for 10mTW Test. Functional test performance declined
during and postintervention in non-WBV groups.
Conclusions
Findings indicate that 16 weeks of low-level WBV exercise provides easily accessible,
adequate stimulus for the frail elderly to attain improved levels of physical functionality.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
10mTW (10-m Timed Walk Test), PWT (Parallel Walk Test), SIM (simulated WBV), TUG (timed Up and Go), WBV (whole-body vibration)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 04, 2020
Footnotes
Supported by the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation and internal research funds from Massey University, New Zealand.
Clinical Trial Registration No.: ACTRN12613000961741.
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
