High-frequency whole-body vibration improves balancing ability in elderly women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of high-frequency whole-body vibration (WBV) on balancing ability in elderly women.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial. Subjects were randomized to either the WBV intervention or the no-treatment control group.


METHODS
Community-living elderly women.


METHODS
Sixty-nine elderly women aged 60 or above without habitual exercise.


METHODS
Side alternating WBV at 20Hz with 3 minutes a day and 3 days a week for 3 months in the WBV intervention group. Those in control group remained sedentary with normal daily life for the whole study period.


METHODS
Limits of stability in terms of reaction time, movement velocity, directional control, endpoint excursion, maximum excursion, and the functional reach test were performed at baseline and endpoint.


RESULTS
Significant enhancement of stability was detected in movement velocity (P<.01), maximum point excursion (P<.01), in directional control (P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
WBV was effective in improving the balancing ability in elderly women. This also provides evidence to support our user-friendly WBV treatment protocol of 3 minutes a day for the elderly to maintain their balancing ability and reduce risks of fall.
Cheung
Wing-Hoi
WH
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Mok
Hoi-Wa
HW
Qin
Ling
L
Sze
Pan-Ching
PC
Lee
Kwong-Man
KM
Leung
Kwok-Sui
KS
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014732:Vibration