Acute effects of whole-body vibration on the motor function of patients with stroke: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of whole-body vibration on the motor function of patients with stroke. DESIGN: The present investigation was a randomized clinical trial studying 43 individuals with hemiparesis after stroke, with 33 subjects allocated to the intervention group and 10 subjects allocated to the control group. The intervention group was subjected to one session of vibration therapy (frequency of 50 Hz and amplitude of 2 mm) comprising four 1-min series with 1-min rest intervals between series in three body positions: bipedal stances with the knees flexed to 30 degrees and 90 degrees and a unipedal stance on the paretic limb. The analytical tests were as follows: simultaneous electromyography of the affected and unaffected tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscles bilaterally in voluntary isometric contraction; the Six-Minute Walk Test; the Stair-Climb Test; and the Timed Get-Up-and-Go Test. The data were analyzed by independent and paired t tests and by analysis of covariance. RESULTS: There was no evidence of effects on the group and time interaction relative to variables affected side rectus femoris, unaffected side rectus femoris, affected side tibialis anterior, unaffected side tibialis anterior, and the Stair-Climb Test (P > 0.05). There was evidence of effects on the group interaction relative to variables Six-Minute Walk Test and Timed Get-Up-and-Go Test (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Whole-body vibration contributed little to improve the functional levels of stroke patients.

Efeito imediato da vibração de corpo inteiro na função motora em pacientes acometidos por acidente vascular cerebral: ensaio clínico randomizado / Immediate effect of whole-body vibration on the motor function of patients with stroke: a randomized clinical trial

O Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) é um problema de saúde pública relevante em virtude de sua alta frequência e de grande impacto na população. Classificam-se, como uma das quatro causas mais comuns de morte no mundo, sendo considerada uma doença incapacitante, e que limita a qualidade de vida. Objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito imediato da vibração de corpo inteiro na função motora de pacientes acometidos por AVC. Trata-se de um ensaio clínico randomizado, nos quais foram alocados quarenta e três indivíduos (33 grupo intervenção - GI - e 10 grupo controle - GC) com sequela de hemiparesia decorrente de AVC. Aplicou-se no GI uma sessão de terapia vibratória (frequência - 50 Hz e amplitude - 2 mm) por 4 série de 1 minuto com descanso de 1 minuto entre as séries, em 3 posições: apoio bipodal com joelho fletido a 30º e a 90º, apoio unipodal sobre o membro parético. Os testes aplicados para análise foram: o teste de caminhada de 6 minutos (TC6M), teste de escada (TSE), teste de time get-up-and-go (TGUG) e a avaliação eletromiográfica (EMG). A EMG foi aplicada na contração isométrica voluntária simultaneamente para os músculos tibial anterior e retofemural ambos do lado acometido e não acometido (TAA e TANA; RFA e RFNA) respectivamente. Aplicou-se para análise estatística o teste t independente para comparar as características basais dos grupos, teste t pareado e o teste de ANCOVA para verificar o efeito da intervenção no grupo e no tempo. Os resultados demonstram que não há evidência de efeitos na interação grupo e tempo para as variáveis RFA, RFNA, TAA, TANA e TSE (p?0,05). Há evidências de efeito na interação grupo para as variáveis TC6M e para TGUG (p<0,05). Conclui-se que o efeito imediato da vibração de corpo inteiro não contribuiu para melhora da função motora em pacientes acometidos por Acidente Vascular Cerebral.

Stroke is a relevant public health problem, due to its high frequency and strong impact on the population. It is classified as one of the four most common causes of death worldwide and is considered to be a disabling disease, which limits the patients' quality of life. The aim of this paper was to investigate the immediate effects of whole body vibration on the motor function of patients affected by stroke. This is a randomized clinical trial, where forty-three hemiparetic subjects, due to stroke sequel, were allocated (33 for the intervention group - IG - and 10 for the control group - CG). For the IG subjects a vibratory therapy (50 Hz frequency and 2 mm amplitude) session was applied consisting of four series of stimulation of 1-minute each with a 1-minute resting interval among all series, in three different positions: bipodal landing position with knees bent at 30º then at 90º and finally, unipodal landing position on the hemiparetic limb. The tests used for the analysis were the 6 minute walking test (6MWT), stair climbing test (SCT), time get-up-and-go test (TGUGT) and electromyographic evaluation (EMG). The latter was applied simultaneously, at isometric voluntary contraction, of tibialis anterior and rectus femorais muscles', both affected and unaffected sides (TAA and TAU ; RFA and RFU) respectively. For statistical analysis, the independent t test was applied to compare the baseline characteristics of the groups and the paired t test as well as ANCOVA to determine the effect of the intervention in both the groups and time. The results show no evidence of effects in group and time interaction for the RFA, RFU, TAA, TAU and SCT variables (p?0.05). There is evidence of effect on the group interaction for the 6MWT and TGUGT variables (p<0.05). It was concluded that, the immediate effects of whole body vibration have not contributed for the improvement of stroke-patients' functional motor.

A new walking aid with axillary support for children with cerebral palsy: electromyographic evaluation.

PURPOSE: To present a new walking aid with axillary support (WAAS) for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to investigate its impact on the lower limb muscles activation in the gait of children with CP. METHOD: Six children with spastic diparesis due to CP performed a straight line walking course in two situations: with and without using the WAAS. Each course was repeated three times for both situations, and electromyography (EMG) activity of quadriceps, hamstrings, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius were recorded during all trials. RESULTS: The use of WAAS significantly increased the EMG activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings during stance phase and tibialis anterior during swing phase, with no significant increase in gastrocnemius activation. CONCLUSION: The use of WAAS improved the synergism of lower limbs muscles of children with CP by reducing the coactivation of antagonistic muscles, especially during the swing phase of gait. Providing a walking aid with improved trunk stability may enable children with CP to improve muscular synergism and walking ability, thus favoring independent mobility, with possible gains in social participation and quality of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Children with cerebral palsy have problems with the development of normal gait, as a result of the reduced motor control and the impaired muscle synergism of the lower limbs. Standard walking aids do not provide proper trunk stability for this group of children. In a relatively small sample of children with cerebral palsy, a walking aid with axillary support was shown to be beneficial for the muscular synergism of the lower limbs during gait.