Acute Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on the Postural Organization of Gait Initiation in Young Adults and Elderly: A Randomized Sham Intervention Study

Characterizing The State Of Heart Rate Autonomic Regulation And EEG In Elderly Women With Falls Syndrome

Objective — The goal of our study was to evaluate the contribution of the central and autonomic nervous systems to the maintenance of postural balance in the elderly. Material and Methods ― This study included 120 healthy women 60-74 YO living in the community. They were distributed among two subgroups: (1) fallers (n=60) and (2) non-fallers (n=60). Fallers had falls in the past 12 months, while non-fallers had none. Walk tests were performed using Balance Master® posturography machine (NeuroCom, Natus, USA). The state of the central nervous system was assessed by Geodesic 300 EEG system (GSN; Electrical Geodesics, Inc.; Eugene, OR, USA). The state of the autonomic nervous system was assessed by the VNS-Spectrum (Neurosoft, Russia) via cardiointervalography. Results ― In Sit to Stand test, the postural sway velocity was higher (p=0.047) and the walking speed (p=0.008) in Tandem Walk test was lower in fallers, compared with non-fallers. The results of the Step Quick Turn test showed that the movement times of the left and right legs were longer for the fallers vs. non-fallers (p=0.044 and p=0.036, respectively), and postural sway values during turning left or right were higher in fallers as well (p=0.001 and p=0.003, correspondingly). At the same time, Step Up and Over test revealed that lift-up index values were higher in fallers vs. non-fallers (p=0.016). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the state of the autonomic nervous system. The absolute spectral power of the EEG was lower in the frontal region of the right hemisphere in the alpha and beta EEG bands in the study group, compared with the control. Conclusion ― A deterioration in the quality of performing complex motor actions and a decrease in postural control in elderly women with falls syndrome were which may have caused their postural instability. Our results confirmed the need for early assessment of the dynamic components of postural control to prevent the development of falls as a geriatric syndrome.

Vibrating Exercise Equipment in Middle-Age and Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain and Effects on Bioelectrical Activity, Range of Motion and Pain Intensity: A Randomized, Single-Blinded Sham Intervention Study

Simple Summary

Physical activity is often recommended as part of the management of chronic low back pain, which is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Vibrating exercise equipment is used despite little scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of using vibrating exercise equipment in women with chronic low back pain. Here, 92 women aged 49–80 years were assigned to one of two groups: the experimental and the control group. The intervention consisted of aerobic exercises with specific handheld equipment. Both groups performed physical activity twice weekly for 10 weeks. The erector spinae muscles’ bioelectrical activity, the lumbar range of motion and pain intensity were measured in all participants at baseline and after 10 weeks. Compared with baseline measures, there was a significant decrease in the bioelectrical activity of the erector spinae muscles during flexion movement, rest at maximum flexion, extension movement and rest in a prone position; an increase in the lumbar range of motion and a decrease in pain intensity following a program of physical activity with vibrating exercise equipment. No significant changes were found in intergroup comparisons; however, physical activity with vibrating exercise equipment could be a prospective strategy for increasing lumbar range of motion and decreasing pain and erector spinae muscle activity in people with chronic low back pain.

Abstract

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Physical activity (PA) is often recommended as part of the management of CLBP, but to date, no one particular exercise has been shown to be superior. Vibrating exercise equipment (VEE) is widely available and used despite little scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of using VEE compared with sham-VEE in women with CLBP. Methods: A randomized (1:1 randomization scheme) single-blinded sham-controlled intervention study was conducted. Through simple randomization, 92 women aged 49–80 years were assigned to one of two groups: VEE (the experimental group) and sham-VEE (the control group). The VEE and sham-VEE intervention consisted of aerobic exercises with specific handheld equipment. Both groups performed physical activity twice weekly for 10 weeks. The erector spinae muscles’ bioelectrical activity (using an eight-channel electromyograph MyoSystem 1400L), lumbar range of motion (Schober’s test) and pain intensity (visual analog scale) were measured in all participants at baseline and after 10 weeks. Results: There was a significant decrease in the bioelectrical activity of the erector spinae muscles during flexion movement (left: Me = 18.2 before; Me = 14.1 after; p = 0.045; right: Me = 15.4 before; Me = 12.6 after; p = 0.010), rest at maximum flexion (left: Me = 18.1 before; Me = 12.5 after; p = 0.038), extension movement (right: Me = 21.8 before; Me = 20.2 after; p = 0.031) and rest in a prone position (right: Me = 3.5 before; Me = 3.2 after; 0.049); an increase in lumbar range of motion (Me = 17.0 before; Me = 18.0 after; p = 0.0017) and a decrease in pain intensity (Me = 4.0 before; Me = 1.0 after; p = 0.001) following a program of PA in the VEE group. Conclusions: No significant changes were found in intergroup comparisons. The beneficial changes regarding decreased subjective pain sensation in the VEE and sham-VEE groups may be due to participation in systematic physical activity. However, PA with vibrating exercise equipment could be a prospective strategy for increasing lumbar range of motion and for decreasing pain and erector spinae muscle activity in people with CLBP.

Mobility in association with anxiety and quality of life in middle-aged and older female fallers and non-fallers

Objective ― The goal of our study was to compare mobility vs. cognitive function and quality of life in middle-aged and older women, both fallers and non-fallers. Material and Methods ― A total of 246 healthy community-dwelling women 55-74 YO participated in this study. They were distributed among two subgroups: (1) fallers (n=95) and (2) non-fallers (n=151). Fallers had falls in the past 12 months, while non-fallers did not. Walking tests were performed using Balance Master® posturography system. Trait anxiety and state anxiety were assessed by Spielberger-Hanin test; health state and quality of life (QoL) were evaluated from SF-36 health survey questionnaire; subjectively experienced age (SEA) and the rate of aging were also estimated. Results ― In Walk Across test, the average speed was lower in fallers (p=0.020), as compared with non-fallers. In Tandem Walking test, step width (p=0.016) and endpoint sway velocity (p=0.029) were higher, while speed (p=0.030) was lower in fallers vs. non-fallers. Step-Quick-Turn test time (p=0.016) was longer and sway (p=0.011) was higher in fallers in the course of turning both to the left and to the right. SEA in female non-fallers was less (p=0.033) than in female fallers of the same age. Trait anxiety was higher in female fallers (p=0.012) with a lower QoL level (p<0.001). Conclusion ― Our results validated the need for early assessment of the postural control dynamic components in order to prevent the development of falls as a geriatric syndrome.