What does the vibration therapy add? A quasi-experimental, pilot study on the short term effects of whole-body vibration as mode of exercise for nursing home residents aged 80+

Abstract

Aims: To compare the responses of nursing home residents aged 80+ to an 8 weeks exercise program performed on a vibratory device and to the same exercise program preformed without vibration on lower limb performance, functional dependence and quality of life. Methods: Lower limb performance was evaluated using the 30 seconds Chair Sit to Stand test. Functional mobility was assessed using the timed up and go test. Postural stability was measured using a force platform. The Barthel Index was used to assess functional dependence and the EuroQol was used to evaluate Health-Related Quality of Life. 44 participants were allocated to the whole-body vibration group (n= 15), non-vibration group (n= 15) or to the control group (n= 14). Results: Significant differences were detected in favour of the whole-body vibration group in lower limb muscle performance (p = 0.001), mobility (p = 0.001), functional independence (p = 0.009) and quality of life (p < 0.001) as compared to the control and non-vibration groups. Conclusions: Whole body vibration based interventions may add additional benefits to conventional exercise programs in terms of lower limb muscle performance, functional dependence and quality of life among nursing home residents over 80 years.