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

Feasibility of using whole body vibration as a means for controlling spasticity in post-stroke patients: A pilot study. Miyara K1, Matsumoto S2, Uema T1, Hirokawa T1, Noma T1, Shimodozono M3, Kawahira K3. Author information Abstract 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° of flexion, and with knee joint angles to 0° 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. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: Hemiplegia, Spasticity, Stroke, Whole body vibration PMID: 24439649