Tom Broekmans, Machteld Roelants, Geert Alders, Peter Feys, Herbert Thijs, Bert O Eijnde
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-0609

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of long-term whole-body vibration on leg muscle performance and functional capacity in persons with multiple sclerosis.
Design: A randomized controlled trial.
Subjects: Twenty-five patients with multiple sclerosis (mean age 47. 9 ± 1. 9 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale 4. 3 ± 0. 2) were assigned randomly to whole-body vibration training (n = 11) or to a control group (n = 14).
Methods: The whole-body vibration group performed static and dynamic leg squats and lunges on a vibration platform (25–45 Hz, 2. 5 mm amplitude) during a 20-week training period (5 training sessions per 2-week cycle), and the control group maintained their usual lifestyle. PRE-, MID- (10 weeks) and POST- (20 weeks) knee-muscle maximal isometric and dynamic strength, strength endurance and speed of movement were measured using isokinetic dynamometry. Function was determined through the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, Two-minute Walk Test and the Timed 25-Foot Walk Test.
Results: Leg muscle performance and functional capacity were not altered following 10 or 20 weeks of whole-body vibration.
Conclusion: Under the conditions of the present study, the applied 20-week whole-body vibration exercise protocol did not improve leg muscle performance or functional capacity in mild- to moderately impaired persons with multiple sclerosis during and immediately after the training programme.