The overall aim of the proposed study is to determine whether whole body vibration is beneficial in promoting bone health, physical fitness and neuromotor performance in patients with chronic stroke. Subjects in the experimental group will undergo whole body vibration therapy (1 session per day, 3 sessions per week) for 8 weeks. The vibration frequency used in this study will be 30Hz. The total duration of exposure to vibration for the experimental group will be 10 minutes. While standing on the vibration platform, patients will be instructed to repeat the following set of light exercises: (1) light squatting,(2) deep squatting, (3) side-to-side weight-shift, (4) Forward and backward weight-shift, (5) forward lunge, (6) marching on the spot. The control exercise group, on the other hand, will perform the same exercise program on the platform, but no vibration will be given. The training will be conducted by a qualified personnel with physiotherapy background. The outcome measurement will be performed 4 times: (1) immediately before the commencement of intervention, (2) immediately after termination of treatment, (3) at 1 month after termination of treatment. Each subject will be evaluated for bone markers, leg muscle strength, balance, spasticity, and walking ability.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
82
Experimental group: One session per day, 3 sessions per week, for consecutive 8 weeks. The total duration of whole body vibration therapy will be about 10 minutes per session.
Control group: One session per day, 3 sessions per week, for consecutive 8 weeks. The subjects will perform the same exercises on the vibration platform but no vibration will be applied.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, China
Paretic knee concentric muscle strength
Time frame: pre-test (week 0)
Paretic knee concentric muscle strength
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Paretic knee concentric muscle strength
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Non-paretic concentric knee muscle strength
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Non-paretic knee concentric muscle strength
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Non-paretic knee concentric muscle strength
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Paretic knee eccentric muscle strength
Time frame: pre-test (week 0)
Paretic knee eccentric muscle strength
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Paretic knee eccentric muscle strength
Time frame: WFollow-up (week 12)
Non-paretic knee eccentric muscle strength
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Non-paretic knee eccentric muscle strength
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Non-paretic knee eccentric muscle strength
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Paretic knee isometric muscle strength
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Paretic knee isometric muscle strength
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Paretic knee isometric muscle strength
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Non-paretic knee isometric muscle strength
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Non-paretic knee isometric muscle strength
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Non-paretic knee isometric muscle strength
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Limit of stability test
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Limit of stability test
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Limit of stability test
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Berg balance test
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Berg balance test
Time frame: Post-test (week 12)
Berg balance test
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Six Minute Walk Test
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Six Minute Walk Test
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Six Minute Walk Test
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Self-selected gait velocity
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Self-selected gait velocity
Time frame: post-test (week 8)
Self-selected gait velocity
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Bone formation marker level
Time frame: pre-test (week 0)
Bone formation marker level
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Bone resorption marker level
Time frame: pre-test (week 0)
Bone formation marker level
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Bone resorption marker level
Time frame: post-test (week 8)
Bone resorption marker level
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
fall rate
Time frame: 6 months after termination of treatment
Knee spasticity
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Knee spasticity
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Knee spasticity
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Ankle spasticity
Time frame: Pre-test (week 0)
Ankle spasticity
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
Ankle spasticity
Time frame: Follow-up (week 12)
Level of satisfaction
Time frame: Post-test (week 8)
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