title: Influence of Whole-Body Vibration Training Without Visual Feedback on Balance and Lower-Extremity Muscle Strength of the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of whole-body vibration (WBV) training without visual feedback on balance and lower-extremity muscle strength in the elderly.Elderly subjects who did not exercise regularly participated in this study. Subjects were randomly divided into a WBV with eyes open group, a visual feedback-deprived plus WBV (VFDWBV) group, and a control group (0 Hz, eyes open). WBV training was provided over a 3-month period, 3 times per week for 5 min each session. Balance performance was measured with the limits of stability test, and muscle strength was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer.A total of 45 elderly subjects with an average age of 69.22  ±  3.97 years, divided into a WBV group (n = 14), a VFDWBV group (n = 17), and a control group (n = 14), completed the trial. Statistically significant differences were found in the balance performance of the 3 groups at different time points (time × group interaction: F = 13.213, P < 0.001), and the VFDWBV group had more improvement in balance than the WBV and control groups. The strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles had time × group interactions: F = 29.604, P < 0.001 and F = 4.684, P = 0.015, respectively; the VFDWBV group had more improvement on lower-extremity muscle strength than the WBV and control groups. The 6-month follow-up showed that the rates of hospital visits for medical services due to falls were 0% in the WBV group (0/14), 0% in the VFDWBV group (0/17), and 28.57% in the control group (4/14).Results showed that WBV training at 20  Hz without visual feedback can significantly improve the balance performance and lower-extremity muscle strength of the elderly.
authors: From the Institute of Medicine (S-YT, M-CL) and School of Physical Therapy (C-HW), Chung Shan Medical University; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (S-YT, C-LL, K-LC) and Department of Family Medicine (P-SH, M-CL), Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare; Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology (C-LL); and Room of Physical Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital (C-HW), Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Shiuan-Yu
authors: SY
authors: Tseng
authors: Chung-Liang
authors: CL
authors: Lai
authors: Kai-Ling
authors: KL
authors: Chang
authors: Pi-Shan
authors: PS
authors: Hsu
authors: Meng-Chih
authors: MC
authors: Lee
authors: Chun-Hou
authors: CH
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance; D014732:Vibration