Whole body vibration can improve balance and walking after a stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effect of whole body vibration (WBV) on balance and walking ability after a stroke.Methods:Thirty stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group ( n=15) and an experimental group ( n=15). Both groups received 30 minutes of routine rehabilitation training twice a day, 6 days a week for 2 weeks. The experimental group was additionally provided with 14 minutes of 10Hz WBV with an amplitude of 4mm every day during the 2 weeks. Before and after the intervention, balance was quantified using the front-behind inclination angle (F-BIA), the left-right inclination angle (L-RIA) and the single-leg stance time of the hemiplegic side (SSTHS). Walking efficiency was quantified using the 10 metre walk test (10MWT) and the 3 metre timed up-and-go test (3TUG). Results:There was a significant improvement in all of the measurements in both groups after the intervention, but the improvements in average L-RIA, SSTHS, 10 MWT and 3TUG results in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group.Conclusions:Supplementing routine therapy with WBV can improve balance and walking ability after a stroke more effectively than routine therapy alone.