The Effect of Horizontal Whole-body Vibration Therapy in Post-menopausal Women
Condition: Osteoporosis; Whole Body Vibration
MeSH terms: Osteoporosis
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Osteoporosis is an important public health issue that may result in a high fracture risk in
      the elderly population. There is general consensus that physical exercise decreases the risk
      of osteoporotic fractures by reducing the risk of falls and increasing bone strength.
      Although long-term high-intensity exercise programs have been shown to be successful in early
      post-menopausal women, a high-intensity exercise program appears to be less attractive to
      older post-menopausal women and may cause a lack of compliance in the long term and result in
      injury. Some studies have described falls and fractures as side effects of
      exercise.Whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy is an easy-to-apply alternative therapy for those
      who do not wish to initiate or continue pharmacological treatments and cannot perform
      high-impact exercises and is associated with high patient compliance. WBV therapy is among
      the promising new interventions for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and is
      defined as mechanical vibration applied in a standing or supine position without any
      restrictions on frequency (hertz), amplitude (millimeters), magnitude (vibration acceleration
      due to gravity, g) and cumulative WBV dose. The evidence obtained from animal studies have
      shown that WBV can be an effective method for increasing bone mass and improving bone
      structure and strength. Some human studies have shown that WBV can positively affect BMD and
      improve neuromuscular parameters associated with falls in post-menopausal women.Small changes
      in posture can have a significant effect on the extent to which a plantar-based mechanical
      stimulus is actually transmitted to the spine or hip; the stimulus is likely to be weakened
      by the inevitable changes in posture, which occur due to aging and osteoporosis. For these
      reasons, we aimed to examine the effect of high frequency and low-magnitude horizontal
      vibration therapy in post-menopausal women without being affected by posture in the present
      study.
    

Detailed description: 
      In this prospective, randomized controlled 3-month study, 185 post-menopausal women who were
      diagnosed with osteoporosis and followed up in our outpatient clinic based on the
      osteoporosis diagnostic criteria by the World Health Organization were analyzed.According to
      the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 patients were included in the study.

      The patients included in the study were randomized by the co-researcher into 3 groups of 20
      patients each according to the random numbers table. Group 1 received WBV and infrared
      therapy for 20 minutes per session, 2 days a week for 3 months. Group 2 received only
      infrared therapy for 20 minutes, 2 days a week for 3 months, in the same bed system. The
      patients were placed in the supine position with the whole body in contact with the
      platform/bed during the treatment. In terms of compliance with the WBV therapy, the frequency
      was increased to 30 Hz in the first week, 40 Hz in the second week, 50 Hz in the third week,
      and 60 Hz in the fourth week and administered for a total of 20 minutes. Subsequent sessions
      continued with 60 Hz. The acceleration value administered by the device was 2.0-4.0 m/s², and
      the amplitude of the applied vibration in the vertical direction was 0.5-2.0 mm.Infrared
      therapy at a wavelength of 550-950 nm was applied to both groups of patients by means of
      infrared pads on the bed during the treatment.Group 3 did not receive any treatment. Patients
      in all 3 groups continued their treatment with 1000 mg Ca and 880 IU vitamin D. The patients
      were called every week by phone to check whether they were complying with the treatment or
      not.Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar and femoral regions of all the patients was
      measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. In addition, osteocalcin and hydroxyproline
      values were measured. Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 questionnaire,
      pain was assessed using the visual analog scale, and balance was assessed based on the
      participants' performance in the Berg Balance test.The scales were applied at the beginning
      and at the end of the treatment.
    

Intervention name(s): Whole Body Vibration and Infrared Therapy; Infrared Therapy; Classical Treatment
Intervention type(s): Device; Device; Other
Intervention description(s): Patients in the whole body vibration and infrared group received vibration therapy with a frequency of 60 Hz and amplitude of 0.5-2 mm and infrared therapy at a wavelength of 550-950 nm. Whole body vibration and infrared treatment were applied with the Power Andullator (HHP, CE0197, Germany) device.; Patients in infrared therapy group received infrared therapy at a wavelength of 550-950 nm.Infrared treatment were applied with the Power Andullator (HHP, CE0197, Germany) device.; 1000 mg Ca and 880 IU vitamin D treatment were given
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Osteoporosis; Whole-body vibration; Bone mineral density; Quality of life