The effects of whole body vibration on pulse wave velocity in men with chronic spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE

A pilot study to evaluate the therapeutic potential of 40 weeks of passive standing with whole body vibration (PS-WBV) on central and peripheral arterial stiffness among men with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS

Consenting participants were pre-screened to ensure safe participation. Fifteen individuals with chronic SCI were enrolled to participate in PS-WBV sessions three times per week for 40 weeks on a modified WAVE platform custom-fitted with an EASYStand 5000. Knee angle was set at 160°, and vibration parameters were 45Hz frequency and 0.7mm displacement. Each 45-minute session of PS-WBV training was intermittent (60 seconds on and 120 seconds off). Aortic and leg pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured at baseline, mid-point (20 weeks) and exit (40 weeks).

RESULTS

Nine males (age 41±11 years, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-D, neurological level of injury T4-T10, years post-injury 12±8 years) completed the intervention. Aortic PWV was collected on n=7 at exit, and leg PWV was collected on n=6 at exit. No changes over time were found for either aortic PWV (P = 0.46) or leg PWV (P = 0.54). One possible study-related serious adverse event occurred during study intervention: the development of a grade III pressure sore on the right proximal anterior shin (n=1).

CONCLUSION

Forty weeks of PS-WBV in adults with SCI did not result in an observable change in arterial stiffness.