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Whole Body Vibration
- Anne Duffty, Brigitte Yip Geriatric Medicine Consultant, Hairmyres Hospital, Lanarkshire (26 October 2009)
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Anne Duffty, ST5 Geriatric Medicine Hairmyres Hospital, Eaglesham road, Lanarkshire, G75 8RG, Brigitte Yip Geriatric Medicine Consultant, Hairmyres Hospital, Lanarkshire
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We read with interest the study by Bogaerts et al on the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) training on cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in older individuals.(1) WBV involves standing in different positions on a vibrating platform and is becoming an area of growing interest as a potential adjunct to current rehabilitation methods for elderly patients. WBV has been shown to increase muscle strength, balance and bone mineral density.(2,3) The trials done so far on WBV have been very heterogeneous and it is therefore difficult to make comparisons. There is evidence that while WBV does lead to an increase in strength, this is no greater than is seen with conventional resistance training.(4,5) Bogaerts et al found that cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength were both significantly improved by WBV training compared to a control group which did no exercise. However study participants in the conventional fitness training group improved in these areas to either a similar or to greater degree compared to participants in the WBV group. The authors state that the study participants were healthy community dwelling elderly individuals with no signs of health problems. Of note the exclusion criteria include any patient on medications known to affect bone metabolism (eg calcium and vitamin D), diabetes mellitus, stroke, serious heart disease, cardiac implant, CABG or stent. This emphasises that WBV is often not appropriate for the majority of our patients. At present WBV is expensive and seems to have little to add to the rehabilitation of the majority of frail, elderly patients. It may have a role to play in the rehabilitation of a small number of patients who are unable to perform standard exercise programs and further work is required to establish which vibration protocols are most effective and for which patients. However, should we not focus more attention on researching which parts of the rehabilitation care we currently provide are most effective, to best serve the majority of our patients? References 1.Bogaerts A, et al. Effects of whole body vibration training on cardiorespiatory Fitness and muscle strength in older individuals(a 1 year randomised controlled trial).Age and Ageing 2009;38:448-454 2.van Nes IJ, et al. Short-term effects of whole-body vibration on posturalcontrol in unilateral chronic stroke patients: preliminary evidence. Am J Phys Med Rehab 2004;83(11):867-873 3.Vershueren SM et al. Effect of 6 month whole body vibration training on hip density, muscle strength and postural control in postmenopausal women: a randomised controlled pilot study. J Bone Miner Res 2004;19:352-359 4.Rees SS et al. Effects of whole-body vibration exercise on lower extremity muscle strength and power in an older population: a randomised clinical trial. Physical Therapy 2008;88(4):462-470. 5.van Nes IJ, et al. Long-term effects of 6 week whole-body vibration on balance recovery and activities of daily living in the post acute phase of stroke: a randomised controlled trial. Stroke 2006;37(9)2331-2335 Conflict of Interest:None declared |
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