Controlled whole body vibration to decrease fall risk and improve health-related quality of life of nursing home residents.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of whole body vibration in the elderly.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Nursing home.


METHODS
Forty-two elderly volunteers.


METHODS
Six-week vibration intervention plus physical therapy (PT) (n=22) or PT alone (n=20).


METHODS
We assessed gait and body balance using the Tinetti test (maximum scores of 12 for gait, 16 for body balance, 28 for global score), motor capacity using the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).


RESULTS
After 6 weeks, the vibration intervention group improved by a mean +/- standard deviation of 2.4+/-2.3 points on the gait score compared with no score change in the control group ( P <.001). The intervention group improved by 3.5+/-2.1 points on the body balance score compared with a decrease of 0.3+/-1.2 points in the control group ( P <.001). TUG test time decreased by 11.0+/-8.6 seconds in the treated group compared with an increase of 2.6+/-8.8 seconds in the control group ( P <.001). The intervention group had significantly greater improvements from baseline on 8 of 9 items on the SF-36 compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Controlled whole body vibration can improve elements of fall risk and HRQOL in elderly patients.
Bruyere
Olivier
O
WHO Collaborating Center for Public Health Aspects of Osteoarticular Disorders, Liège, Belgium. olivier.bruyere@ulg.ac.be
Wuidart
Marc-Antoine
MA
Di Palma
Elio
E
Gourlay
Margaret
M
Ethgen
Olivier
O
Richy
Florent
F
Reginster
Jean-Yves
JY
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001530:Belgium; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life