Whole body vibration technique in rehabilitation of children with cystic fibrosis

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BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (or mucoviscidosis) is a severe genetic disease, which leads to disability and requires a permanent rehabilitation treatment aimed at improving the pulmonary function lung and the effort tolerance starting from childhood. The whole-body vibration (WBV) technique can potentially improve the effort tolerance and quality of life in patients with cystic fibrosis. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the WBV technique in improving the effort tolerance in patients with cystic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized controlled study enrolling 60 patients with pulmonary or mixed form of cystic fibrosis aged 8 to 17 years. Patients were randomized into three groups: the patients in the experimental Group 1 received a course of conventional kinesiotherapy combined with the WBV; in the experimental Group 2, the course of conventional kinesiotherapy combined with the WBV was enhanced with the aerobic exercises on an exercise bike; and the comparison group patients received only conventional kinesiotherapy. The study duration was consistent with the hospital stay time (12 days); the patients received a rehabilitation course of 10 exercises. The primary endpoint was the increased walking distance in the six-minute walk test. The methods of evaluation involved the pre-/post-treatment six-minute walk test results and the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales quality of life scores. RESULTS: The comparative analysis results demonstrate the statistically significantly increased six-minute walk test distance in the experimental Groups 1 and 2, which evidences the efficacy of the WBV technique aimed at improving the effort tolerance in patients with cystic fibrosis. The group that received kinesiotherapy combined with the WBV and aerobic exercises showed a more pronounced effect. In the comparison group, the six-minute walk test results did not significantly change. Based on the study results, no statistically significant change of the quality of life occurred in any group. CONCLUSION: Integrating the WBV into the individual rehabilitation programs for patients with cystic fibrosis can improve the effort tolerance. This technique can be used both combined with the aerobic exercises, and as an alternative training method, if a patient cannot perform aerobic exercises due to the severity of his or her condition or for epidemiological indications.