Feasibility of using whole body vibration as a means for controlling spasticity in post-stroke patients: A pilot study

作者：Miyara Kodai; Matsumoto Shuji^*; Uema Tomohiro; Hirokawa Takuya; Noma Tomokazu; Shimodozono Megumi; Kawahira Kazumi

来源：Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2014, 20(1): 70-73.

DOI：10.1016/j.ctcp.2013.10.002

• Hemiplegia
• Spasticity
• Stroke
• Whole body vibration

To examine the feasibility of adapting whole body vibration (WBV) in the hemiplegic legs of post-stroke patients and to investigate the anti-spastic effects, and the improvement of motor function and walking ability. Twenty-five post-stroke patients with lower-limb spasticity were enrolled in the study. Each subject sat with hip joint angles to approximately 90 degrees of flexion, and with knee joint angles to 0 degrees of extension. WBV was applied at 30 Hz (4-8 mm amplitude) for 5 min on hamstrings, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. The modified Ashworth scale was significantly decreased, active and passive range of motion (A-ROM, P-ROM) for ankle dorsiflexion and straight leg raising increased, and walking speed and cadence both improved during the 5-min intervention. Our proposed therapeutic approach could therefore be a novel neuro-rehabilitation strategy among patients with various severities.

• 出版日期2014-2