title: Oscillatory whole-body vibration improves exercise capacity and physical performance in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a randomised clinical study.
abstract: In patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), supportive therapies may be beneficial in addition to targeted medical treatment. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of oscillatory whole-body vibration (WBV) in patients on stable PAH therapy.
  
  
  
  Twenty-two patients with PAH (mean PAP≥25 mm Hg and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP)≤15 mm Hg) who were in world health organization (WHO)-Functional Class II or III and on stable PAH therapy for≥3 months, were randomised to receive WBV (16 sessions of 1-hour duration within 4 weeks) or to a control group, that subsequently received WBV. Follow-up measures included the 6-min walking distance (6MWD), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), echocardiography, muscle-power, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL; SF-36 and LPH questionnaires).
  
  
  
  When compared to the control group, patients receiving WBV exhibited a significant improvement in the primary endpoint, the 6MWD (+35.4±10.9 vs -4.4±7.6 m), resulting in a net benefit of 39.7±7.8 m (p=0.004). WBV was also associated with substantial improvements in CPET variables, muscle power, and HRQoL. The combined analysis of all patients (n=22) indicated significant net improvements versus baseline in the 6MWD (+38.6 m), peakVO2 (+65.7 mL/min), anaerobic threshold (+40.9 mL VO2/min), muscle power (+4.4%), and HRQoL (SF-36 +9.7, LPH -11.5 points) (all p<0.05). WBV was well tolerated in all patients, and no procedure-related severe adverse events (SAEs) occurred.
  
  
  
  WBV substantially improves exercise capacity, physical performance, and HRQoL in patients with PAH who are on stable targeted therapy. This methodology may be utilised in structured training programmes, and may be feasible for continuous long-term physical exercise in these patients.
  
  
  
  NCT01763112; Results.
authors.affiliation: Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Herzzentrum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.affiliation: Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Herzzentrum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dumitrescu
authors.affiliation: Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Herzzentrum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gärtner
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Kinderheilkunde, Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beccard
authors.affiliation: Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Herzzentrum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Viethen
authors.affiliation: Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Herzzentrum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Tilmann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Herzzentrum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.|Cologne Cardiovascular Research Center (CCRC), Heart Center at the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldus
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Statistik, Informatik und Epidemiologie, Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Kinderheilkunde, Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schönau
authors.affiliation: Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Herzzentrum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.|Cologne Cardiovascular Research Center (CCRC), Heart Center at the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenkranz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D004452:Echocardiography; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009991:Oscillometry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000070857:Walk Test