title: Short-Term Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Combined with Task-Related Training on Upper Extremity Function, Spasticity, and Grip Strength in Subjects with Poststroke Hemiplegia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of whole-body vibration training combined with task-related training on arm function, spasticity, and grip strength in subjects with poststroke hemiplegia.
  
  
  
  Forty-five subjects with poststroke were randomly allocated to 3 groups, each with 15 subjects as follows: control group, whole-body vibration group, and whole-body vibration plus task-related training group. Outcome was evaluated by clinical evaluation and measurements of the grip strength before and 4 weeks after intervention.
  
  
  
  Our results show that there was a significantly greater increase in the Fugl-Meyer scale, maximal grip strength of the affected hand, and grip strength normalized to the less affected hand in subjects undergoing the whole-body vibration training compared with the control group after the test. Furthermore, there was a significantly greater increase in the Wolf motor function test and a decrease in the modified Ashworth spasticity total scores in subjects who underwent whole-body vibration plus task-related training compared with those in the other 2 groups after the test.
  
  
  
  The findings indicate that the use of whole-body vibration training combined with task-related training has more benefits on the improvement of arm function, spasticity, and maximal grip strength than conventional upper limb training alone or with whole-body vibration in people with poststroke hemiplegia.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Epidemiology and Health Informatics, The Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (J-SL); Department of Health Science, The Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (C-YK); and Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (H-DK).
authors.forename: Jung-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeong-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*