Effects of Stochastic Whole-body Vibration Training on Balance and Executive Functions

Summary

Falls represent a significant financial burden, costing millions of dollars annually in Switzerland (SUVA, 2022). Good cognitive abilities and good balance represent modifiable protective factors against falls (Kurz, 2008). The present study investigates the impact of stochastic whole-body vibration training (SR-WBV) on executive functions and balance. To this end, participants were randomized into an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group underwent SR-WBV at a frequency of 5 Hertz (Hz), while participants in the control group underwent SR-WBV at 2 Hz. The training on an SRT Zeptor® Medical plus noise device consisted of three one-minute intervals of vibration, interspersed with one-minute rest periods. Data on executive functions (Updating, Shifting, Inhibition) and balance were collected before and after the intervention , complemented by subjective assessments of concentration and balance through questionnaires.

Conditions

• Healthy

Interventions

OTHER

5Hz Stochastic Resonance Whole-Body Vibration Training

Both the experimental group and the control group performed their training on an SRT Zeptor® Medical plus noise device (Frei Swiss AG, Zurich). The device featured two independent foot plates that vibrated stochastically in all three dimensions, resulting in multidimensional movement. During the training, participants were instructed to stand on the foot plates with both feet, keep their arms relaxed at their sides, maintain a slight bend in their knees, and focus their gaze on a fixation cross on the wall. Following the protocol used in Faes et al. (2018), each training session consisted of three series, each comprising one minute of vibration training followed by one minute of rest. The vibration frequency for the intervention group was set at 5 Hz.

OTHER

2 Hz Stochastic Resonance Whole-Body Vibration Training

Both the experimental group and the control group performed their training on an SRT Zeptor® Medical plus noise device (Frei Swiss AG, Zurich). The device featured two independent foot plates that vibrated stochastically in all three dimensions, resulting in multidimensional movement. During the training, participants were instructed to stand on the foot plates with both feet, keep their arms relaxed at their sides, maintain a slight bend in their knees, and focus their gaze on a fixation cross on the wall. Following the protocol used in Faes et al. (2018), each training session consisted of three series, each comprising one minute of vibration training followed by one minute of rest. The vibration frequency for the intervention group was set at 2 Hz.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Bern

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Achim Elfering, Prof. Dr. phil. nat. · University of Bern

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-09-20

Primary Completion

2023-10-20

Completion

2023-10-20

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations