Table 3.
Acute adaptations to vibration
| Study | Vibration characteristics (frequency, amplitude, duration) | Subjects (n), age, classification | Outcome measures | Results: significant acute effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon et al30 | FV 119 Hz, 0.5 mm, 3 minutes | n=3 (one with CP), 1–3 years, grading of GMF | Head-erect behavior (observations), paraspinal muscle activity (TVR), frequency of seizures | ↑Duration of head erect behavior (during vibration), ↑paraspinal muscle activation (during vibration), no effects on number of seizures |
| Cheng et al38 | vWBV 20 Hz, 2 mm, 1 minute (5×) | n=16, 9.8±2.3 years, GMFCS I–III | Spasticity MAS, active and passive ROM (AJ and KJ), relaxation index (Wartenberg pendulum index), gait 6MWT, and functional mobility TUG | ↓Spasticity score, knee extensors (MAS), ↑active ROM, no effects on passive ROM, ↑relaxation index, ↑distance for 6MWT, ↓time required for TUG |
| Dickin et al34 | vWBV 30–50 Hz, 2 mm, 1 minute (5×) | n=8, 20–51 years, CP 5–8 | Passive and dynamic ROM (AJ and KJ), gait parameters (speed, cadence, step, stride length, step and stride time, AJ and KJ angles) | ↑Dynamic ROM (ankle), ↑walking speed, ↑stride length |
| Eklund and Steen31 | FV 100–200 Hz, 1.5 mm, 30 seconds (maximum 1–2 minutes) | n>200, <18 years | Hyper- and hypotonia, acts of voluntary motor control (observations) | ↑Voluntary power (agonist), ↓hypertonicity (antagonist), ↑normal patterns of movement (dystonic syndrome), ↑body image function, kinesthesia, ↑spontaneous movement of weak muscles, ↑voluntary motor control, eg, memory of motor acts, pronunciation, feeding pattern |
| Krause et al32 | sWBV 16–24 Hz, 1.5–3 mm, 1 minute | n=44, 4–22 years, GMFCS II–IV | Stretch reflex, voluntary muscle activation, muscle coordination, aROM (AJ and KJ) | ↓Muscle-spindle reflex amplitude, ↑voluntary muscle activation, ↑muscle coordination, aROM (KJ) |
| Leonard et al15 | FV 200 Hz, amplitude NA, 3 seconds (5–10×) | n=6 (six Con), 12–16 years | Spinal excitability (H-reflex), shank-muscle activity during dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, and vibration | ↑Reflex amplitude during dorsiflexion (antagonist), ↑reflex amplitude during plantar flexion (agonist), but less compared to Con, ↓H-reflex amplitude during vibration (agonist), but less inhibition compared to Con |
| Park et al35 | sWBV 20 Hz, 2 mm, 10 minutes (2×) | n=17, 3–14 years, GMFCS I–IV | Spasticity (MAS, MTS) of plantar flexors (AJ), persistency of results | ↓Spasticity score (MAS and MTS), persistent results at 1 hour (MAS) and 2 hours (MTS) |
| Singh et al33 | Micro-impact (Juvent) 30–37 Hz, amplitude NA, 30 seconds | n=18 (10 Con), 4–12 years, GMFCS I–III | local-high intensity vibration (HLV) signal to tibia and femur, correlation of spasticity (MAS), and vibratory transmission | CP: ↑HLV in tibia, ↓HLV in femur, negative correlation with MAS Con: ↑HLV in tibia, ↑HLV in femur |
| Tardieu et al37 | FV 70 Hz, 0.5 mm, 10 seconds (3×) | n=22 (18 Con), 8–15 years, GMFCS | Vibration illusion | ↑Kinesthesia: vibration predicts reliably muscle contraction and joint movement |
| Tupimai et al36 | Oscillating WBV 20 Hz, 2 mm, 1 minute (5×) | n=12, 6–18 years, GMFCS I–III | Spasticity (MAS), muscle strength (FTSST), balance (PBS) | ↓Spasticity score (MAS), ↓time (FTSST), no effect on balance control |
Note: Illustration of chronic effects in response to VT.
Abbreviations: FV, focal vibration; CP, cerebral palsy; TVR, tonic vibration reflex; vWBV, vertical whole-body vibration; GMFCS, Gross Motor Function Classification System; MAS, modified Ashworth Scale; ROM, range of motion; 6MWT, 6-minute walking test; TUG, timed up and go; sWBV, side-alternating whole-body vibration; Con, control; aROM, active ROM; AJ, ankle joint; KJ, knee joint; NA, not available; MTS, modified Tardieu Scale; WBV, whole-body vibration; FTSST, five times sit-to-stand test; PBS, pediatric balance scale.