Effect of whole-body vibration exercise on balance in women with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 6-week "usual care" exercise program supplemented with whole-body vibration (WBV) to improve balance and strength in women with fibromyalgia (FM).


METHODS
This was a randomized controlled study.


METHODS
The setting was a physical therapy department in an academic setting.


METHODS
The subjects were 30 postmenopausal women with FM (age: 59±7.90 years).


METHODS
Subjects were randomized into one of two groups: an experimental group (EG: n=15), which combined exercise training (2 days a week) with 3 days of WBV, and a control group (CG: n=15), who performed the same exercise training program (2 days a week) but without WBV.


METHODS
Balance and muscle strength were measured at baseline and after the 6-week intervention.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found (p<0.05) between the study groups for the Medio-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI), when patients were assessed with their eyes open and closed. The effect size of the improvement was large with eyes closed (R2=0.260) and moderate when the eyes were open (R2=0.047). However, no significant differences were found (p>0.05) between the study groups for other outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with FM may increase their MLSI by engaging in a 6-week traditional exercise program with supplementary WBV. This may have implications for falls prevention in this patient group.
Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Seville, Seville, Spain. bsancor@us.es
Borja
B
Sañudo
Moises
M
de Hoyo
Luis
L
Carrasco
Cleofás
C
Rodríguez-Blanco
Angel
A
Oliva-Pascual-Vaca
Joseph G
JG
McVeigh
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005123:Eye; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D017698:Postmenopause; D004856:Postural Balance; D059039:Standard of Care; D014732:Vibration