Irene Aprile1, Enrica Di Sipio2, Marco Germanotta2, Chiara Simbolotti2, Luca Padua2,3. 1. Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus Foundation, Piazzale Morandi 6, 20121, Milan, Italy. iaprile@dongnocchi.it. 2. Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus Foundation, Piazzale Morandi 6, 20121, Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito, 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE:Muscle vibration is a technique that applies a low-amplitude/high-frequency vibratory stimulus to a specific muscle using a mechanical device. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using robot-based outcomes, the effects of focal muscle vibration, at different frequencies, on the motor performance of the upper limb in healthy subjects. METHODS:Forty-eightvolunteer healthy subjects (age: 31 ± 8 years) were enrolled. Subjects were assigned to three different groups: the first group, in which subjects underwent muscle vibration treatment with a frequency of 100 Hz; the second group of subjects underwent the same treatment protocol, but using a frequency of vibration of 200 Hz; finally, the control group did not undergo any treatment. The robot-based evaluation session consisted of visually guided reaching task, performed in the sagittal plane. RESULTS: Our results showed that the vibration treatment improved upper limb motor performance of healthy subjects from the baseline (T0) to 10 days after the end of the treatment (T2), but only the group treated with a frequency of 200 Hz reached statistical significance. Specifically, in this group we found an increase of the number of repetitions (T0: 51.4 ± 22.7; T2: 66.3 ± 11.8), and the smoothness of the movement, as showed by a decrease of the Normalized Jerk (T0: 10.5 ± 2.8; T2: 7.7 ± 0.5). CONCLUSION: The results of our study support the use of focal muscle vibration protocols in healthy subjects, to improve motor performance.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: Muscle vibration is a technique that applies a low-amplitude/high-frequency vibratory stimulus to a specific muscle using a mechanical device. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using robot-based outcomes, the effects of focal muscle vibration, at different frequencies, on the motor performance of the upper limb in healthy subjects. METHODS: Forty-eight volunteer healthy subjects (age: 31 ± 8 years) were enrolled. Subjects were assigned to three different groups: the first group, in which subjects underwent muscle vibration treatment with a frequency of 100 Hz; the second group of subjects underwent the same treatment protocol, but using a frequency of vibration of 200 Hz; finally, the control group did not undergo any treatment. The robot-based evaluation session consisted of visually guided reaching task, performed in the sagittal plane. RESULTS: Our results showed that the vibration treatment improved upper limb motor performance of healthy subjects from the baseline (T0) to 10 days after the end of the treatment (T2), but only the group treated with a frequency of 200 Hz reached statistical significance. Specifically, in this group we found an increase of the number of repetitions (T0: 51.4 ± 22.7; T2: 66.3 ± 11.8), and the smoothness of the movement, as showed by a decrease of the Normalized Jerk (T0: 10.5 ± 2.8; T2: 7.7 ± 0.5). CONCLUSION: The results of our study support the use of focal muscle vibration protocols in healthy subjects, to improve motor performance.
Authors: Marco Paoloni; Morena Giovannelli; Massimiliano Mangone; Laura Leonardi; Emanuela Tavernese; Elisabetta Di Pangrazio; Andrea Bernetti; Valter Santilli; Carlo Pozzilli Journal: Clin Rehabil Date: 2013-03-29 Impact factor: 3.477
Authors: Brandon Rohrer; Susan Fasoli; Hermano Igo Krebs; Richard Hughes; Bruce Volpe; Walter R Frontera; Joel Stein; Neville Hogan Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2002-09-15 Impact factor: 6.167
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