Lower Limb Table 11 Whole-Body Vibration for Gait Rehabilitation

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/20/2010 - 12:36

Author Year; Country
Score
Research Design
Sample Size

Methods

Outcomes

Ness & Field-Fote 2009;
USA
Downs & Black = 16
Pre-Post
N=17

Population: 3 women, 14 men; aged 28-65 years; all subjects had a motor-incomplete SCI; C3-T8 lesion level; ≥1 year duration.
Treatment: Whole body vibration (WBV) 3 days/week for 4 weeks with four 45 second bouts of 50 Hz frequency and 2-4mm intensity each session, while standing on a vibration platform and 1 minute seated rest in between.
Outcome Measures: 3-D motion capture system used to measure walking function (walking speed; step length; cadence (steps/min); hip-knee intralimb coordination).
  1. Walking speed significantly increased by 0.062 ± 0.011 m/s.
  2. Speed continued to improve 1 week post final intervention; only one subject tested.
  3. Cadence, weak side step length, and strong side step length all significantly increased following 12 sessions of WBV.
  4. Increased walking speed was significantly related to increased cadence.