title: Whole-body vibration training in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whole-body-vibration training is used to improve muscle strength and function and might therefore constitute a potential supportive therapy for neuromuscular diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate safety of whole-body vibration training in ambulatory children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
  
  
  METHODS
  14 children with DMD and 8 with SMA underwent an 8-week vibration training programme on a Galileo MedM at home (3 × 3 min twice a day, 5 days a week). Primary outcome was safety of the training, assessed clinically and by measuring serum creatine kinase levels. Secondary outcome was efficacy as measured by changes in time function tests, muscle strength and angular degree of dorsiflexion of the ankles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All children showed good clinical tolerance. In boys with DMD, creatine kinase increased by 56% after the first day of training and returned to baseline after 8 weeks of continuous whole-body vibration training. No changes in laboratory parameters were observed in children with SMA. Secondary outcomes showed mild, but not significant, improvements with the exception of the distance walked in the 6-min walking test in children with SMA, which rose from 371.3 m to 402.8 m (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole-body vibration training is clinically well tolerated in children with DMD and SMA. The relevance of the temporary increase in creatine kinase in DMD during the first days of training is unclear, but it is not related to clinical symptoms or deterioration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Mathildenstraße 1, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: Julia.vry@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vry
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Mathildenstraße 1, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Isabel J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital University Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Semler
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Mathildenstraße 1, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital University Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schönau
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Mathildenstraße 1, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Janbernd
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirschner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*
keywords: Creatine kinase; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Exercise in neuromuscular diseases; Spinal muscular atrophy; Whole-body vibration training