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Published on: October 17, 2018
Effect of whole body vibration on leg muscle strength after healed burns: a randomized controlled trial
Anwar Abdelgayed Ebid1, Mohamed Taher Ahmed, Marwa Mahmoud Eid
1Department for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. Aaebeed@uqu.edu.Sa
Objective:
To investigate the effects of eight weeks whole body vibration training program on leg muscle strength (force-producing capacity) in adults after healed burns.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting:
Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University.
Subjects:
Thirty-one burned patients participated in the study and were randomized into whole body vibration group and control group. Non-burned healthy adults were assessed similarly to burned subjects and served as matched healthy controls.
Methods:
The whole body vibration group performed an eight weeks vibration program three times a week on a vibration platform; the control group received home based physical therapy program without vibration training.
Main Measures:
Assessment of knee extensors and ankle planter flexor strength by isokinetic dynamometer at 150°/s were performed at the beginning of the study and at the end of the training period for both groups.
Results:
Subjects with burns more than 36% TBSA produced significantly less torque in the quadriceps and calf muscle than non-burned healthy subjects. Patients in whole body vibration group showed a significant improvement in knee extensor and ankle planter flexor strength as compared with those in the control group. Knee extensor strength and percent improvement was 233.40±5.74 (64.93±3.03 change score) and 38.54% for the vibration group and 190.07±3.99 (21.66±4.41 change score) and 12.86% for the control group, ankle plantar flexor strength and percent improvement was 156.27±5.95 (54.53±6.16 change score) and 53.70% for the vibration group and 116.13±3.24 (14.66±2.71 change score) and 14.52% for the control group.
Conclusions:
Participation in whole body vibration program resulted in a greater improvement in quadriceps and calf muscle strength in adults with healed thermal burn compared to base line values; a WBV program is an effective for strength gain in rehabilitation of burned patients.
