title: Vibration training improves disability status in multiple sclerosis: A pretest-posttest pilot study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week vibration training program on changing the disability level in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty-five adults with clinically-confirmed MS underwent an 8-week vibration training on a side-alternating vibration platform. The vibration frequency and peak-to-peak displacement were set at 20Hz and 2.6mm, respectively. Prior to and following the training course, the disability status was assessed for all participants characterized by the Patient Determined Disability Steps (PDDS) and MS Functional Composite (MSFC) scores. The training program significantly improved the PDDS (3.66±1.88 vs. 3.05±1.99, p=0.009) and the MSFC scores (0.00±0.62 vs 0.36±0.68, p<0.0001). All three MSFC components were improved: lower extremity function (9.37±4.92 vs. 8.13±4.08s, p=0.011), upper extremity function (dominant hand: 27.81±5.96 vs. 26.20±5.82s, p=0.053; non-dominant hand: 28.47±7.40 vs. 27.43±8.33s, p=0.059), and cognitive function (30.55±13.54 vs. 36.95±15.07 points, p=0.004). Our findings suggested that vibration training could be a promising alternative modality to reduce the disability level among people with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: fyang@utep.edu.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
authors.forename: Edson F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mobility; Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite; Patient Determined Disability Status; Side-alternating vibration