EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF A 20-WEEK WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION TRAINING PROGRAMME ON LEG MUSCLE PERFORMANCE AND FUNCTION IN PERSONS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

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 con trol group maintained their usual lifestyle PRL, 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