Effects of Different Frequencies of Whole Body Vibration on Repositioning Error in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain in Different Angles of Lumbar Flexion

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of high and low frequency of whole body vibration (WBV) on repositioning error in 3 different angles of lumbar flexion in patients with chronic low back pain. MethodsTwenty-four participants with chronic low back pain, aged between 20 and 35 years, were included in this randomized crossover trial study. Participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups as follows: (1) low frequency/high frequency, and (2) high frequency/low frequency. Participants received high-frequency (50 Hz) and low-frequency (30 Hz) WBV in a semi-squat position for 5 minutes in 2 sessions, with 2 weeks of rest. Before and after the WBV, lumbar repositioning error in 30% and 60% of lumbar full flexion and neutral position with eyes closed when standing was evaluated using an electrogoniometer. ResultsThe repositioning error was decreased in neutral, 30%, and 60% of lumbar flexion after the low-frequency and high-frequency WBV. Post hoc testing revealed that the effect of angle was not significant in repositioning error changes between high-frequency and low-frequency WBV (P > .05). However, the effect of low-frequency WBV on the repositioning error was significantly higher compared with high-frequency WBV (P < .05). ConclusionLow-frequency WBV might induce more improvement in the accuracy of lumbopelvic repositioning compared with high-frequency WBV with the method of WBV used in this study.