Effects of whole-body vibration training on lower extremity muscle strength and physical function in elderly patients with sarcopenia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives To investigate the feasibility and benefits of WBV training in enhancing muscle strength and physical performance in older inpatients with sarcopenia. Methods We included 40 patients with sarcopenia (mean age 85 years; age range 80~90 years) and randomly separated into the WBV group or control (CON) group. The WBV group underwent 8 weeks of conventional rehabilitation training combined with WBV, whereas the CON group received 8 weeks of conventional rehabilitation training alone. The primary outcome was maximal isometric muscle strength. The secondary outcomes were the time-up-and-go test (TUGT), the five-times sit-to-stand test (FTSST), the 6-m gait speed test, and the Morse Fall Scale (MFS). Results After an 8-week intervention, only the quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles in the CON group showed substantial gains in strength. In the WBV group, significant increases were observed in iliopsoas (P<0.05), quadriceps (P<0.01), hamstring(P<0.01), and tibialis anterior muscle (P<0.01) respectively. For all physical performance assessments, improvements were observed in both CON and WBV groups (P<0.05), the improvement in the WBC group was greater than the CON group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in fall risk between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion This result highlights a eight weeks of whole-body vibration training can increase the lower-limb muscular strength and physical performance of older inpatients with sarcopenia.