title: Stochastic resonance therapy in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the effects of stochastic whole body vibration (WBV) we performed a double-blind randomized controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were allocated either to the experimental or sham group. The experimental group received 5 cycles of stochastic WBV on three days, each cycle consisting of 5 stimulus trains of 60 seconds duration (frequency 6.5 Hz) and 60 seconds resting time between stimuli. Patients allocated to the control group received a sham treatment with 1 Hz. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, part III (UPDRSIII) was performed after treatment at baseline, after the first series on day 1 and on day 5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reduction of subscores included in UPDRS III relative to baseline served as primary outcome measure. After the five-day course bradykinesia was improved in 14 of 18 patients (77.8%) and postural stability in 8 of 18 (44.4%). Speech and facial expression remained unchanged in both groups. Tremor (p=0.027) and postural stability (p=0.048) showed a reduction also, but did not reached level of significance (p < 0.01); UPDRSIII sum score was improved by 26.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stochastic whole body vibration may offer a supplementation to canonical physical treatments of PD motor symptoms.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. oliver.kaut@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Kaut
authors: Niels
authors: N
authors: Allert
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Coch
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Paus
authors: Agata
authors: A
authors: Grzeska
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Minnerop
authors: Ullrich
authors: U
authors: Wüllner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*