J Clin Med Res. 2013 Jun;5(3):205-16. doi: 10.4021/jocmr1137w. Epub 2013 Apr 23.

The effect of whole body vibration exposure on muscle function in children with cystic fibrosis: a pilot efficacy trial.

O’Keefe K, Orr R, Huang P, Selvadurai H, Cooper P, Munns CF, Singh MA.

Source:  Exercise, Health and Performance, Faculty Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To examine the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) exposure on muscle function in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Non-randomised controlled cross-over trial.

METHODS: The setting was home-based WBV exposure. The participants were children (8 – 15 years) with CF (n = 7).

INTERVENTION: Participants served as their own controls for the first four weeks (usual care), then underwent four weeks of parentally-supervised home-based WBV exposure followed by four weeks washout (usual care). The WBV exposure consisted of 20 – 30 minutes of intermittent (1 min vibration:1 min rest) exposure on a Galileo platform (20 – 22Hz, 1 mm amplitude) 3 days/week. The primary outcome measures of absolute and relative lower body (leg extension (LE), leg press (LP)), upper body (chess press (CP)) strength and power, and power were measured at baseline, and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Secondary exploratory outcomes were cardiorespiratory fitness, pulmonary function and health-related quality of life.

RESULTS:

Six participants completed the training without adverse events. Muscle function changes following WBV exposure were not statistically significant. However, moderate-to-large relative effect sizes (ES) favouring WBV were evident for leg extension strength (ES = 0.66 (-0.50, 1.82)), LP relative strength (ES = 0.92 (-0.27, 2.11)), leg press peak power (ES = 0.78 (-0.50, 2.07)) and CMJ height (ES = 0.60 (-0.56 to 1.76)).

CONCLUSIONS:

The results from this first controlled trial indicate that WBV may be a potentially effective exercise modality to safely increase leg strength and explosive power in children with CF. Potentially clinically relevant changes support continued investigation of the efficacy, mechanism and feasibility of this intervention in future large-scale studies.

KEYWORDS: Children, Cystic Fibrosis, Muscle function, Muscle power, Vibration

PMID: 23671546

Int J Rehabil Res., 2008; 31(3): 253-6,

Whole body vibration: a new therapeutic approach to improve muscle function in cystic fibrosis

Rietschel E, van Koningsbruggen S, Fricke O, Semler O, Schoenau E
CF-Center, Children”s Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Ernst.Rietschel@uk-koeln.de

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Disease progression in cystic fibrosis (CF) leads to muscle wasting and loss of muscle function. The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on muscle function in adult patients with CF.

PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients (three males; seven females) of the CF Center Cologne, Germany, have completed the 3-month study (age: 24-47 years; forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 17-109% predicted (49+/-29) and body mass index (BMI) 16.6-24.4 kg/m2 (19.3+/-2.5). WBV was provided by a vibration platform (Galileo 2000).

METHOD: The patients were standing in an upright position receiving vertical vibration of frequencies between 20 and 25 Hz. The vibration exercise evokes muscle contractions via stretch reflexes improving muscular activity. The training schedule consisted of three 3-min sessions twice a day, 5 days per week for 3 months. Every 4 weeks the following tests were carried out: FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), BMI, chair-rising test (CRT), one-leg and two-leg jump test as well as maximal isometric grip force.

RESULTS: The study has been approved by the local ethics committee. After 3 months of WBV all parameters in the CRT significantly improved: chair-rising time (P=0.03), maximal force (P=0.02), maximal power (P=0.01) as well as velocity (P=0.02). The peak jump force (P=0.02) and velocity (P=0.01) of the two-leg jump significantly improved. Parameters in the one-leg jump as well as maximal isometric grip force showed no significant improvement. Weight and BMI showed a slightly positive trend whereas FEV1 and FVC did not significantly change. Any change in mechanographic parameters did not correlate with FEV1 or FVC in this study.

CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that WBV can improve muscle function in CF patients.

Product groups: Galileo^® Therapy Systems
Topics: Paediatrics, Neuronal Diseases, Medical Faculties, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Therapy & Prevention with Galileo^®
PMID: 18708849