Effect of whole body horizontal vibration exercise in chronic low back pain patients: Vertical versus horizontal vibration exercise

Heejae Kim, Bum Sun Kwon, Jin Woo Park, Hojun Lee, Kiyeun Nam, Taejune Park, Yongjin Cho, Taeyeon Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To elucidate the effect of a 12-week horizontal vibration exercise (HVE) in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients as compared to vertical vibration exercise (VVE). Methods Twenty-eight CLBP patients were randomly assigned to either the HVE or VVE group. All participants performed the exercise for 30 minutes each day, three times a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Altered pain and functional ability were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. Changes in lumbar muscle strength, transverse abdominis (TrA) and multifidus muscle thicknesses, and standing balance were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer, ultrasonography, and balance parameters, respectively. These assessments were evaluated prior to treatment, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the first treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of treatment (that is, 16 weeks after the first treatment). Results According to the repeated-measures analysis of variance, there were significant improvements with time on VAS, ODI, standing balance score, lumbar flexor, and extensor muscle strength (all p < 0.001 in both groups) without any significant changes in TrA (p=0.153 in HVE, p=0.561 in VVE group) or multifidus (p=0.737 in HVE, p=0.380 in VVE group) muscle thickness. Further, there were no significant differences between groups according to time in any of the assessments. No adverse events were noticed during treatment in either group. Conclusion HVE is as effective as VVE in reducing pain, strengthening the lumbar muscle, and improving the balance and functional abilities of CLBP patients. Vibrational exercise increases muscle strength without inducing muscle hypertrophy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)804-813
Number of pages10
JournalAnnals of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume42
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2018

Keywords

  • Balance
  • Low back pain
  • Muscle strength
  • Vibration
  • Visual analog scale

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of whole body horizontal vibration exercise in chronic low back pain patients: Vertical versus horizontal vibration exercise'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this