title: Effects of a whole body vibration (WBV) exercise intervention for institutionalized older people: a randomized, multicentre, parallel, clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of an exercise program on a whole-body vibration platform (WBV) in improving body balance and muscle performance and preventing falls in institutionalized elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre randomized parallel assessor-blinded clinical trial was conducted in elderly persons living in nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomized to an exercise program performed either on a whole body vibratory platform (WBV plus exercise group) or on a stationary surface (exercise group). The exercise program for both groups consisted of static and dynamic exercises (balance and strength training over a 6-week training period of 3 sessions per week). The frequency applied on the vibratory platform was 30 to 35 Hz and amplitude was 2 to 4 mm.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measurement was static/dynamic body balance. Secondary outcomes were muscle strength and number of falls. Efficacy was analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis and per protocol. The effects of the intervention were evaluated using the t test, Mann-Whitney test, or chi-square test, depending on the type of outcome. Follow-up measurements were collected 6 weeks and 6 months after randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 159 participants from 10 centers were included: 81 in the WBV plus exercise group and 78 in the control group. Mean age was 82 years, and 67.29% were women. The Tinetti test score showed a significant overall improvement in both groups (P < .001). No significant differences were found between groups at week 6 (P = .890) or month 6 (P = .718). The Timed Up and Go test did not improve (P = .599) in either group over time, and no significant differences were found between groups at week 6 (P = .757) or month 6 (P = .959). Muscle performance results from the 5 Sit-To-Stand tests improved significantly across time (P = .001), but no statistically significant differences were found between groups at week 6 (P = .709) or month 6 (P = .841). A total of 57 falls (35.8%) were recorded during the follow-up period, with no differences between groups (P = .406).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise program on a vibratory platform provides benefits similar to those with exercise program on a stationary surface in relation to body balance, gait, functional mobility, and muscle strength in institutionalized elderly people. Longer studies in larger samples are needed to assess falls.
authors.affiliation: Blanquerna School of Health Sciences (Universitat Ramon Llull), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mercesr@blanquerna.url.edu.
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sitjà-Rabert
authors.affiliation: Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB Sant Pau), CIBERESP (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mmartinezz@santpau.cat.
authors.forename: Ma José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martínez-Zapata
authors.affiliation: EUSES Health and Sport Sciences School, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Azahara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fort Vanmeerhaeghe
authors.affiliation: Blanquerna School of Health Sciences (Universitat Ramon Llull), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rey Abella
authors.affiliation: EUSES Health and Sport Sciences School, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romero-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB Sant Pau), CIBERESP (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Preventive Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bonfill
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D061214:Patient Safety; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013030:Spain; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*
keywords: Institutionalized older people; balance; falls; muscle performance; whole-body vibration