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A Randomized Pilot Study of Stochastic Vibration Therapy in Spinocerebellar Ataxia

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Abstract

Whole body vibration (WBV) is a biomechanical treatment used widely in professional sports and rehabilitation. We examined the effect of stochastic WBV on ataxia in spinocerebellar ataxia types 1, 2, 3, and 6 (SCA 1, 2, 3 and 6) in a single-center double-blind sham-controlled study. Stochastic WBV was applied on four sequent days, each treatment consisting of five stimulus trains of 60-s duration at a frequency of 6.5 Hz and 60-s resting time between stimuli (n = 17). Patients allocated to the sham group received the same treatment with 1 Hz (n = 15). All patients were rated at baseline and after the last treatment using clinical scores (SARA, SCAFI, and INAS). After treatment, we found significant improvements of gait, posture, and speed of speech in the verum group while limb kinetics and ataxia of speech did not respond. Stochastic WBV might act on proprioceptive mechanisms and could also stimulate non-cerebellar/compensatory mechanisms. But at present, the involved cellular mechanism and the presumed neuronal loops cannot be deciphered. Thus, future work is needed to understand the mechanisms of whole body vibration. Finally, the use of stochastic WBV could provide a supplementation to treat ataxia in SCA and can be combined with physiotherapeutical motor training.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the German Heredo-ataxia Society (DHAG), Stuttgart, Germany. We thank all patients involved for their participation. We also thank Dr. R. Fimmers, University of Bonn, Germany for statistical advice and the “Clinical Study Support Core” (CSSC) for excellent support in planning and conducting the trial.

Conflict of Interest

We state that there are no potential conflicts of interest in this submission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany

    O. Kaut, H. Jacobi, A. Prochnicki, M. Minnerop, T. Klockgether & U. Wüllner

  2. Clinical Study Support Core (CCSC), University of Bonn, 53105, Bonn, Germany

    C. Coch

  3. Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany

    M. Minnerop

  4. Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 53105, Bonn, Germany

    T. Klockgether & U. Wüllner

Authors
  1. O. Kaut
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  2. H. Jacobi
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  3. C. Coch
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  4. A. Prochnicki
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  5. M. Minnerop
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  6. T. Klockgether
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  7. U. Wüllner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to U. Wüllner.

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Kaut, O., Jacobi, H., Coch, C. et al. A Randomized Pilot Study of Stochastic Vibration Therapy in Spinocerebellar Ataxia. Cerebellum 13, 237–242 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-013-0532-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-013-0532-5

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