Effects of vibration therapy on hormone response and stress in severely disabled patients: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of vibration therapy (VT) on quality of life and hormone response in severely disabled patients compared with placebo.


METHODS
A longitudinal prospective, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial, with pre and postintervention assessments.


METHODS
A total of 20 severely disabled individuals were recruited from a National Reference Centre in Spain: 13 (65%) men and 7 (35%) women, 45.5 ± 9.32 years of age (range 41: 22-63). We evaluated their physical stress and state anxiety.


RESULTS
No statistically significant changes were found in the socio-psychological variables studied, while in the experimental group state anxiety decreased significantly with p < 0.01 (Z = 2.38; one-tailed p = .009) and, among the biological variables, the level of cortisol fell (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Short periods of exposure to low-frequency and low-amplitude local vibration are a safe and effective mechanical stimulus that can have a positive effect in terms of hormone response.


CONCLUSIONS
VT can be considered to have an anti-stress effect.
Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, León, Spain.|University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
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J
Seco
Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, León, Spain.
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V
Rodríguez-Pérez
Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, León, Spain.
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AF
López-Rodríguez
Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain.
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J
Torres-Unda
Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain.
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E
Echevarria
Unidad de Fisioterapia, Centro de Referencia Estatal para la Atención a Personas con Grave Discapacidad y para la Promoción de la Autonomía Personal y Atención a la Dependencia, San Andrés del Rabanedo, León, Spain.
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MI
Díez-Alegre
Unidad de Fisioterapia, Centro de Referencia Estatal para la Atención a Personas con Grave Discapacidad y para la Promoción de la Autonomía Personal y Atención a la Dependencia, San Andrés del Rabanedo, León, Spain.
A
A
Ortega
Unidad de Fisioterapia, Centro de Referencia Estatal para la Atención a Personas con Grave Discapacidad y para la Promoción de la Autonomía Personal y Atención a la Dependencia, San Andrés del Rabanedo, León, Spain.
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P
Morán
Unidad de Fisioterapia, Centro de Referencia Estatal para la Atención a Personas con Grave Discapacidad y para la Promoción de la Autonomía Personal y Atención a la Dependencia, San Andrés del Rabanedo, León, Spain.
N
N
Mendoza-Laíz
Department of Public Health, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain.
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LC
Abecia Inchaurregui
D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D006728:Hormones
Vibration therapy; anxiety state; cortisol; hormone response; severe disability; stress; testosterone