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Does focal mechanical stimulation of the lower limb muscles improve postural control and sit to stand movement in elderly?

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Abstract

Backgrounds

Imbalance in elderly is a common problem strictly related to fall.

Aims

This study investigates the possibility that a new protocol based on the focal mechanical muscle vibration may improve balance and stability in elderly.

Methods

Pre-post non-randomized clinical trial has been used. Patients referring postural disequilibrium with negative vestibular bed-side examinations have been treated with focal muscle vibration applied to quadriceps muscles and evaluated before and immediately after therapy and after 1 week and after 1 month with postural stabilometric examination and with an inertial measurement units during the time up and go test.

Results

Stabilometric analysis showed statistically significant differences in both the area (p = 0.01) and sway (p < 0.01) of the center of pressure during the close eyes tests. Moreover, the global time of the time up and go test was reduced (p < 0.05) and the rotation velocity was increased (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The findings confirm the beneficial role of focal muscle vibration in elderly patients improve postural stability and mobility.

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Abbreviations

rMV:

Repetitive muscle vibration

POMA:

Performance-oriented mobility assessment

CoP:

Center of pressure

TUG:

Timed up-and-go

IMU:

Inertial measurement unit

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Correspondence to Claudia Celletti.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors has a conflict of interest which could alter the primary interest of this study.

Human and animal rights

The experimental protocol was designed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (1964).

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All study participants provided informed consent.

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Attanasio, G., Camerota, F., Ralli, M. et al. Does focal mechanical stimulation of the lower limb muscles improve postural control and sit to stand movement in elderly?. Aging Clin Exp Res 30, 1161–1166 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0909-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0909-x

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