Objective

To investigate the effects of controlled whole body vibrations

exercises on global health in elderly patients.

Methods

42 volunteers patients, resident in a nursing home, were randomized to either a vibration group or control non-treated group. The vibration intervention consists of a 6-week

CWBV training (4 x 1 minutes series, 3 times a week employed by standing on a vertical vibrating (10 Hz in the first and the third series and 27 Hz in the second and fourth ones) platform (Galileo 900(r)). Different validated

tests were performed, at the beginning and at the

end of the study, in all patients. Quality of life was assessed by the 9 subscales

Quality of walking, as well as the balance were assessed by the Tinetti test. The "get-up-and-go" test was used to assess the motor capacity. Results: Baseline characteristics of the two groups (22 patients in the vibration group and 20

in the control group) was not statistically different except for age (84.5 (5.9) years in the treated group and 79.0 (6.9) years in the control group, p=0.008). After 6 weeks of treatment, 7 items (PF, SF, RE RP, V, P, GH) of the SF-36

improved significantly in the CWBV group compared to the control group, with, for example, 143% of improvement in PF

(p=0.0002 between the two groups), 41% in P (p=0.004), 60% in V (p=0.0006), and 23% in GH (p=0.0002). Improvement of 57% in the quality of walking, assessed by the Tinetti test, was also observed in the treated group compared to only 2% in the control group (p=0.0003). For

the equilibrium, improvement was 77% in the CWBV group and the worsening was 1% in the control group (p=0.001). Eventually, a decrease of 39% of the time to performed the get-up-and-go test was also observed, after 6 weeks, in the

treated group, compared to an increase of 14% in the control group.

Conclusion

Fast and easy exercises, 3 times a week during 6 weeks, using a CWBV apparatus, could improve the quality of life, the walk, the balance and the motor capacity in elderly patients. Longer studies with more patients are needed to assess the impact of such benefits.

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