Feasibility of using whole body vibration as a means for controlling spasticity in post-stroke patients: a pilot study.
To examine the feasibility of adapting whole body vibration (WBV) in the hemiplegic legs of post-stroke patients and to investigate the anti-spastic effects, and the improvement of motor function and walking ability. Twenty-five post-stroke patients with lower-limb spasticity were enrolled in the study. Each subject sat with hip joint angles to approximately 90° of flexion, and with knee joint angles to 0° of extension. WBV was applied at 30 Hz (4-8 mm amplitude) for 5 min on hamstrings, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. The modified Ashworth scale was significantly decreased, active and passive range of motion (A-ROM, P-ROM) for ankle dorsiflexion and straight leg raising increased, and walking speed and cadence both improved during the 5-min intervention. Our proposed therapeutic approach could therefore be a novel neuro-rehabilitation strategy among patients with various severities.
Department of Rehabilitation, Kirishima Rehabilitation Center of Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
Kodai
K
Miyara
Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. Electronic address: shushu@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
Shuji
S
Matsumoto
Department of Rehabilitation, Kirishima Rehabilitation Center of Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
Tomohiro
T
Uema
Department of Rehabilitation, Kirishima Rehabilitation Center of Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
Takuya
T
Hirokawa
Department of Rehabilitation, Kirishima Rehabilitation Center of Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
Tomokazu
T
Noma
Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Megumi
M
Shimodozono
Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Kazumi
K
Kawahira
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
Hemiplegia; Spasticity; Stroke; Whole body vibration