Background

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a relative new intervention paradigm that could reduce spasticity and improve motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We investigated neuromuscular response to a single session of side-alternating WBV with different amplitudes in children with CP.

Methods

Ten children with spastic CP aged 7–17 years at GMFCS level I-III participated in this pilot study. Participants received two sessions of side-alternating WBV with the same frequency (20 Hz) but different amplitudes (low-amplitude: 1 mm and high-amplitude: 2 mm). Each session included six sets of 90 s of WBV and 90 s of rest. Before and after each WBV session, we used (a) the modified Ashworth scale to evaluate the spasticity of the participants' leg muscles, (b) a quiet standing task to analyze center-of-pressure (CoP) pattern and postural control, and (c) overground walking trials to assess spatiotemporal gait parameters and joint range-of-motion (RoM).

Results

Both WBV sessions similarly reduced the spasticity of the ankle plantarflexors, improved long-range correlation of CoP profile during standing, and reduced muscle activity of tibialis anterior during walking. The high-amplitude WBV further increased ankle RoM during walking.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that a single session of WBV with either a low or a high amplitude can reduce spasticity, enhance standing posture, and improve gait patterns in children with CP. It suggests that low-amplitude WBV may induce similar neuromuscular response as high-amplitude WBV in children with spastic CP and can provide positive outcomes for those who are not able to tolerate stronger vibration.

中文翻译：

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脑瘫儿童单次全身振动的神经肌肉反应：一项初步研究。

背景

全身振动（WBV）是一种相对较新的干预范例，可以减少痉挛并改善脑瘫（CP）儿童的运动功能。我们调查了CP患儿对单次侧轮交替WBV的神经肌肉反应，振幅不同。

方法

GMFCS I-III级的10名7至17岁的痉挛性CP患儿参加了该试验研究。参加者以相同的频率（20 Hz）但振幅不同（低振幅：1 mm和高振幅：2 mm）接受了两次侧面交替的WBV。每节课包括六组90 s的WBV和90 s的休息时间。在每次WBV会议之前和之后，我们使用（a）修改后的Ashworth量表评估参与者腿部肌肉的痉挛程度，（b）静静站立的任务来分析压力中心（CoP）模式和姿势控制，以及（c）地面步行试验，以评估时空步态参数和关节活动范围（RoM）。

结果

两次WBV疗程均相似地降低了踝plant屈肌的痉挛性，改善了站立时CoP曲线的长期相关性，并降低了步行过程中胫骨前肌的肌肉活动。高振幅WBV进一步增加了步行过程中的踝关节RoM。

结论

这项研究表明，一次低或高幅度的WBV可以减轻CP儿童的痉挛，增强站立姿势并改善步态。这表明在痉挛性CP患儿中，低振幅WBV可能引起与高振幅WBV相似的神经肌肉反应，并且可以为那些不能耐受剧烈振动的儿童提供积极的结果。