Effects of a low-frequency sound wave therapy programme on functional capacity, blood circulation and bone metabolism in frail old men and women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of a low-frequency sound wave therapy programme on functional capacity, blood circulation and bone metabolism of the frail elderly.


METHODS
Single-blind, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Two senior service centres.


METHODS
Forty-nine volunteers (14 males and 35 females) aged 62-93 years with up to 12 diagnosed diseases were allocated in either the intervention group (n = 30) or control group (n = 19).


METHODS
The intervention group underwent sound wave therapy, 3-5 times a week for 30 minutes per session over a period of 6 months. The control group received no intervention.


METHODS
Blood pressure, functional capacity, mobility, bone density, biochemical markers, isometric muscle strength, balance, and skin surface temperature.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the intervention group's mobility and the amount of self-reported kilometres walked per week increased by 3 km (P<0.05), while levels of cholesterol (4.97 (0.72) to 4.52 (0.65) mmol/L, P =0.019), low-density lipoprotein (2.82 (0.72) to 2.45 (0.61) mmol/L, P =0.022), bone markers of total osteocalcin (11.0 (6.5) to 10.3 (5.9) ng/mL, P =0.048)) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (2.50 (1.0) to 2.41 (1.1) IU/L, P =0.021)) decreased. The average skin surface temperature was significantly higher during active sessions at the end of the intervention than in the beginning (P = 0.004). No change was found during placebo sessions.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-frequency sound wave therapy may have the potential to promote well-being of frail elderly subjects via improved functional capacity, especially in subjects who are too frail to undertake exercise.
Zheng
A
A
Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Sakari
R
R
Cheng
S M
SM
Hietikko
A
A
Moilanen
P
P
Timonen
J
J
Fagerlund
K M
KM
Kärkkäinen
M
M
Alèn
M
M
Cheng
S
S
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001775:Blood Circulation; D015519:Bone Density; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010807:Physical Endurance; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007527:Isoenzymes; D015675:Osteocalcin; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase