Effects of an eight-week whole body vibration on lower extremity muscle tone and function in children with cerebral palsy.
Three 10-minute whole-body vibration sessions per week for eight weeks can reduce lower-limb spasticity and improve walking in children with cerebral palsy.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers in Korea worked with the kids who had cerebral palsy. All were 8-11 years old and could walk a little with help.
Half the kids stood on a vibrating plate for 10 minutes, three times a week. The plate shook at 20 Hz and 2 mm up-and-down. The other half stood on the same plate but it never turned on.
What they found
After eight weeks the vibration group had looser, less spastic leg muscles. Their walking speed and step length also got better.
The gains lasted at least three days after the last session. Parents said the kids walked more steadily at home and school.
How this fits with other research
Geerdink et al. (2015) also worked with 8-young learners with CP but trained arms instead of legs. Both studies show short, intense motor work can help school-age kids.
Psotta et al. (2020) tested jump cues for kids with coordination disorder. Their external-focus tip lines up with Kathy’s simple setup: give the body a clear signal and let it move.
Ding et al. (2017) ran remote exercise groups on tablets. Kathy’s in-person vibration gives faster neuromuscular feedback, but T’s work shows you can still keep kids active when travel is tough.
Why it matters
You can add a 10-minute vibration block right before gait practice. No extra staff, no fancy suit—just a plate and a timer. Try it on Monday: let the child play a handheld game while standing on the plate, then walk the hallway. Track spasticity with your usual goniometer checks to see if the looseness carries over.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an eight-week whole body vibration (WBV) on lower extremity spasticity and ambulatory function in children with cerebral palsy with a complete crossover design. Sixteen participants aged 9.2 (2.1) years participated in this study. Half of the participants received a 10-min WBV, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Then a 4-week washout period followed, after which they received a sham WBV 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The other half received the intervention in a reversed order. The participants were evaluated via variables measuring range-of-motion, muscle tone, and ambulatory function before, immediately after, 1 day after, and 3 days after each intervention. Repeated-measures analyses revealed significant beneficial effects on most variables expect the passive range-of-motion measurement. Significant correlations were found between timed up-and-go and relaxation index, and between timed up-and-go and six-minute walk test. The results suggested that an 8-week WBV intervention normalized muscle tone, improved active joint range and enhanced ambulatory performance in children with cerebral palsy for at least 3 days. These indicated that regular WBV can serve as an alternative, safe, and efficient treatment for these children in both clinical and home settings.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2015 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.12.017