Effects of complementary whole-body vibration training in patients after lung transplantation: A randomized, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, some studies have shown that whole-body vibration training (WBVT) may be a beneficial training mode in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effects of WBVT in patients after lung transplantation (LTx) have not yet been investigated.


METHODS
Eighty-three LTx patients (56 ± 7 years of age, 51% male, 10 ± 12 weeks post-LTx, forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] 68 ± 20 percent predicted [% pred], baseline 6-minute walk distance [6MWD] 350 ± 120 meters) admitted to a 4-week inpatient multidisciplinary program of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) performed supervised endurance and strength training on 5 days per week. In addition, patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 supervised intervention groups on 3 days/week: (1) 4 × 2 minutes of bilateral dynamic squat exercises on a side-alternating vibration platform at 24 to 26 Hz (WBVT); and (2) a control group (CON) with the same amount of exercise time on the floor.


RESULTS
Seventy patients completed the study (WBVT: n = 34; CON: n = 36). Improvement in 6MWD was significantly (p = 0.029) higher in the WBVT group (83.5 meters [95% CI 65.4 to 101.7]) compared with the CON group (55.2 m [95% CI 37.5 to 72.8]). Also, peak work rate increased significantly (p = 0.042) more in the WBVT group (16.8 W [95% CI 13.5 to 20.5]) than in the CON group (12.6 W [95% CI 9.0 to 16.1]). No adverse events related to the intervention occurred during the study.


CONCLUSIONS
A complementary WBVT on top of conventional endurance and strength training seems to be a feasible and safe exercise modality in patients after LTx. Furthermore, it may even enhance the benefits of a comprehensive PR on exercise capacity.
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schoen Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Schoenau am Koenigssee, Germany; Department for Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: rainer.gloeckl@gmx.de.
Rainer
R
Gloeckl
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schoen Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Schoenau am Koenigssee, Germany.
Inga
I
Heinzelmann
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schoen Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Schoenau am Koenigssee, Germany.
Stella
S
Seeberg
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schoen Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Schoenau am Koenigssee, Germany.
Thomas
T
Damisch
Research Office, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Wolfgang
W
Hitzl
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schoen Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Schoenau am Koenigssee, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Klaus
K
Kenn
D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*
exercise; lung transplantation; pulmonary rehabilitation; training; vibration training; whole-body vibration training