title: Effects of whole body vibration training in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if whole body vibration training (WBVT) improves muscular force and modifies functional capacity parameters in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a randomized controlled trial in the outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of a general hospital. Sixty stable male patients with COPD and mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 34.3% (predicted) were enrolled with 51 patients completing the study. Participants were randomized into two groups: Whole Body Vibration Training Group (WBVTG), (n = 26) undergoing three sessions per week for a total of 6 weeks and a Control Group (CG) (n = 25) without intervention. The main outcome measures were isokinetic knee flexor and extensor testing in a concentric-concentric regime and exercise capacity measured by the 6-min walking test (6MWT). Secondary outcomes were pulmonary muscular assessment with maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed between groups in maximum moment of isokinetic knee flexor/extensor testing force in a concentric-concentric regime. In contrast, WBVTG patients showed a significant increase in the 6MWT (81.2 ± 9.2) meters; mean ± SD; P < 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in maximum oxygen desaturation in the 6MWT after 6 weeks of training (3.1 ± 1.1; P = 0.01). There were significant differences between groups in MIP and MEP at the end of the study in favour of the WBVTG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WBVT provided significant improvements in functional capacity in severe COPD patients without changes in muscular force.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Mataró Hospital, Mataró, Spain. 34260epc@comb.cat
authors.forename: Eulogio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pleguezuelos
authors.forename: Maria Engracia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Lluis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guirao
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samitier
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costea
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Maria Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Virgilio Amin
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Del Carmen
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ovejero
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miravitlles
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: COPD; functional capacity; isokinetic; muscle; whole body vibration