Abstract
BackgroundKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of public disability. Neuromuscular function contributes to the development and/or progression of KOA. Whole body vibration (WBV) exercise improve the neuromuscular function of patients with neurological disorders and even that of older patients with limited exercise options. Therefore, WBV exercise may offer an efficient and alternative treatment for individuals with KOA. However, the effects of WBV training on the neuromuscular function of individuals with KOA remain unclear. Therefore, this study attempts to investigate the effect of a 12-week WBV exercise on the neuromuscular function of individuals with KOA.Methods/designWe will conduct a prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial on 180 KOA patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to the WBV exercise, lower extremity resistance training, and health education groups. The WBV exercise group will participate in a 12-week WBV training. The lower extremity resistance training group will undergo a 12-week lower extremity resistance training of both lower limbs. The control group will receive health education for 12 weeks. After the intervention, the participants will be followed up for 3 months with no active intervention. Primary outcome measures will include anthropometric measurements, gait analysis during walking and stair climbing, muscle strength test of the knee and ankle, proprioception test of the knee and ankle, and neuromuscular response of the leg muscles. Secondary outcome measures will include self-reported pain and physical functional capacity, and physical performance measures. Furthermore, adverse events will be recorded and analyzed. If any participant withdraws from the trial, intention-to-treat analysis will be performed.DiscussionImportant features of this trial mainly include intervention setting, outcome measure selection, and study duration. This study is intended for estimating the effect of WBV intervention on neuromuscular control outcomes. Study results may provide evidence to support the beneficial effects of WBV exercise on the physical performance and neuromuscular control of individuals with KOA to fill the research gap on the efficacy of WBV.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ID: ChiCTR-IOR-16009234. Registered on 21 September 2016.
Highlights
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of public disability
Study results may provide evidence to support the beneficial effects of Whole body vibration (WBV) exercise on the physical performance and neuromuscular control of individuals with KOA to fill the research gap on the efficacy of WBV
Given its feasibility and safety, WBV exercise has been recommended as an alternative treatment to improve the function and selfreported disease status of individuals with KOA [12, 13, 46]
Summary
Various exercises have been recommended as potential treatments for KOA [42,43,44,45]. Evidence supports the notion that WBV exercise reduces pain and improves physical functions in individuals with KOA [12, 13]. WBV exercise improves muscle strength, power, joint proprioception, balance, and flexibility in sedentary and older individuals [23] It improves functional performance, such as walking, and postural stability, of individuals with KOA. No RCT study has been designed to investigate the effects of WBV exercise on neuromuscular control in individuals with KOA. This study attempts to estimate the effect of WBV intervention on outcomes, including daily life function and neuromuscular control, in individuals with KOA. The study results may provide evidence to support the beneficial effects of a WBV exercise program on the physical performance and neuromuscular control of individuals with KOA. Abbreviations 6MWD: 6-minute Walk Distance; BMI: Body Mass Index; EMG: Electromyography; KOA: Knee osteoarthritis; OA: Osteoarthritis; RT: Resistance training; TUG: The Timed Up and Go test; VAS: Visual Analog Scale; WBV: Whole body vibration; WOMAC: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index
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