Stochastic resonance therapy in Parkinson's disease

To test the effects of stochastic whole body vibration (WBV) we performed a double-blind randomized controlled study.

Patients were allocated either to the experimental or sham group. The experimental group received 5 cycles of stochastic WBV on three days, each cycle consisting of 5 stimulus trains of 60 seconds duration (frequency 6.5 Hz) and 60 seconds resting time between stimuli. Patients allocated to the control group received a sham treatment with 1 Hz. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, part III (UPDRSIII) was performed after treatment at baseline, after the first series on day 1 and on day 5.

The reduction of subscores included in UPDRS III relative to baseline served as primary outcome measure. After the five-day course bradykinesia was improved in 14 of 18 patients (77.8%) and postural stability in 8 of 18 (44.4%). Speech and facial expression remained unchanged in both groups. Tremor (p=0.027) and postural stability (p=0.048) showed a reduction also, but did not reached level of significance (p < 0.01); UPDRSIII sum score was improved by 26.7%.

Stochastic whole body vibration may offer a supplementation to canonical physical treatments of PD motor symptoms.