title: Whole-body vibration therapy in children with severe motor disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of whole-body vibration therapy on bone mass, bone turnover and body composition in severely disabled children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen non-ambulatory children aged 5.1-16.3 years (6 males, 13 females) with severe motor disabilities participated in an intervention programme with standing exercise on a self-controlled dynamic platform, which included whole-body vibration therapy (vibration, jump and rotation movements). Whole-body vibration therapy was performed at 40-42 Hz, with an oscillation amplitude of 0.2 mm, 5-15 min/treatment, twice/week for 6 months. Bone mass parameters and bone markers were measured at the study start, and after 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whole-body vibration therapy was appreciated by the children. Total-body bone mineral density increased during the study period (p < 0.05). Z-scores for total-body bone mineral density ranged from -5.10 to -0.60 at study start and remained unchanged throughout. Approximately 50% of the subjects had increased levels of carboxy-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen and decreased levels of osteocalcin at the start. Body mass index did not change during the intervention period, but had increased by the 12-month follow-up (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole-body vibration therapy appeared to be well tolerated by children with severe motor disabilities. Total-body bone mineral density increased after 6 months of whole-body vibration therapy. Higher carboxy-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen and lower osteocalcin values indicated that severely disabled children have a reduced capacity for bone acquisition.
authors.affiliation: Child and Youth Habilitation, Habilitation and Health, 421 44 Gothenburg , Sweden. sophie.kilebrant@vgregion.se.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilebrant
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Braathen
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Emilsson
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Glansén
authors.forename: Ann-Charlott
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Söderpalm
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zetterlund
authors.forename: Barbro
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Westerberg
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swolin-Eide
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000517:prevention & control; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000068079:Motor Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011187:Posture; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*