title: Whole-Body Vibration Intensities in Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: A single-blinded randomized controlled study was conducted to investigate the effects of different whole-body vibration (WBV) intensities on body functions/structures, activity, and participation in individuals with stroke.
  
  
  
  Eighty-four individuals with chronic stroke (mean age = 61.2 yr, SD = 9.2) with mild to moderate motor impairment (Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment lower limb motor score: median = 9 out of 14, interquartile range = 7-11.8) were randomly assigned to a low-intensity WBV, high-intensity WBV, or control group. The former two groups performed various leg exercises while receiving low-intensity and high-intensity WBV, respectively. Controls performed the same exercises without WBV. All individuals received 30 training sessions over an average period of 75.5 d (SD = 5.2). Outcome measurements included knee muscle strength (isokinetic dynamometry), knee and ankle joint spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale), balance (Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test), mobility (Timed-Up-and-Go test), walking endurance (6-Minute Walk Test), balance self-efficacy (Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale), participation in daily activities (Frenchay Activity Index), perceived environmental barriers to societal participation (Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors), and quality of life (Short-Form 12 Health Survey). Assessments were performed at baseline and postintervention.
  
  
  
  Intention-to-treat analysis revealed a significant time effect for muscle strength, Timed-Up-and-Go distance, and oxygen consumption rate achieved during the 6-Minute Walk Test, the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test, the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale, and the Short-Form 12 Health Survey physical composite score domain (P < 0.05). However, the time-group interaction was not significant for any of the outcome measures (P > 0.05).
  
  
  
  The addition of the 30-session WBV paradigm to the leg exercise protocol was no more effective in enhancing body functions/structures, activity, and participation than leg exercises alone in chronic stroke patients with mild to moderate motor impairments.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Physiotherapy, Guangdong Provincial Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, Guangzhou, CHINA; 2Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, CHINA; and 3School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA.
authors.forename: Lin-Rong
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Gabriel Y F
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Alice Y M
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Mei-Zhen
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Marco Y C
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D004856:Postural Balance; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D014732:Vibration