title: Whole-body vibration versus proprioceptive training on postural control in post-menopausal osteopenic women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To prevent falls in the elderly, especially those with low bone density, is it necessary to maintain muscle coordination and balance. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of classical balance training (BAL) and whole-body vibration training (VIB) on postural control in post-menopausal women with low bone density.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight subjects began the study and 57 completed the nine-month intervention program. All subjects performed resistive exercise and were randomized to either the BAL- (N=31) or VIB-group (N=26). The BAL-group performed progressive balance and coordination training and the VIB-group underwent, in total, four minutes of vibration (depending on exercise; 24-26Hz and 4-8mm range) on the Galileo Fitness. Every month, the performance of a single leg stance task on a standard unstable surface (Posturomed) was tested. At baseline and end of the study only, single leg stance, Romberg-stance, semi-tandem-stance and tandem-stance were tested on a ground reaction force platform (Leonardo).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The velocity of movement on the Posturomed improved by 28.3 (36.1%) (p<0.001) in the VIB-group and 18.5 (31.5%) (p<0.001) in the BAL-group by the end of the nine-month intervention period, but no differences were seen between the two groups (p=0.45). Balance tests performed on the Leonardo device did not show any significantly different responses between the two groups after nine months (p≥0.09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strength training combined with either proprioceptive training or whole-body vibration was associated with improvements in some, but not all, measures of postural control in post-menopausal women with low bone density. The current study could not provide evidence for a significantly different impact of whole-body vibration or balance training on postural control.
authors: Centre for Muscle and Bone Research, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany. n.stolzenberg@gmx.de
authors: Nils
authors: N
authors: Stolzenberg
authors: Daniel L
authors: DL
authors: Belavý
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Rawer
authors: Dieter
authors: D
authors: Felsenberg
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011434:Proprioception; D055070:Resistance Training; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*
keywords: Galileo whole body vibration exercise; Leonardo Mechanography; Postmenopausal osteoporosis balance exercise