Effect of 12-week vibrotherapy on proprioception and low back pain control

Pain in the lower back is often caused by nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) of unknown etiology. It is not a separate disease entity, but a symptom such as pain or dizziness. In NSLBP, impaired proprioception is observed, i.e. impaired processing of joints positions and movements information by the central nervous system. Moreover, decreased lumbar proprioception may increase the risk of lumbar injuries and disability. In the presented research, Chinese scientists from the Shanghai University of Sport examined the effect of whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise on proprioception and pain control in young NSLBP patients.

• Lumbar proprioception improved after WBV, which was reflected by the diminished error of lumbar flexion and extension angles assessment: from 3.65 to 1.90 ° or from 3.06 to 1.61 °, respectively.
• Also, the perceived pain decreased under the influence of WBV: from 4.62 to 3.00 (VAS scale).

Prepared on the basis of:

Effect of 12-Week Whole-Body Vibration Exercise on Lumbopelvic Proprioception and Pain Control in Young Adults with Nonspecific Low Back Pain. Zheng YL, Wang XF, Chen BL et al. Med Sci Monit. 2019;25:443-452.

Study population

The study included 42 patients (32 men and 10 women) with NSLBP aged 18-34 years (mean 21.6 ± 3.0 years) who met the relevant criteria.

Test procedure

There was no control group in this study, only the measurements before and after the 12-week WBV therapy. The influence of WBV exercise on the sense of lumbar joint position (indirect measurement of proprioception) and on the level of pain was assessed.

Lumbar joint position sensation was measured using a Con-Trex Multi-Joint System (CMV AG, Switzerland). The sensed lumbar flexion and extension angles were compared with the real ones and thus the proprioceptive error was obtained. The greater the value of such an error, the weaker the sensation of the lumbar joint position and the worse the proprioceptive precision.

Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) with a horizontal line – a scale of 0 to 10 (“0” meant no pain and “10” the worst pain imaginable).

Use of vibration in the study

For a total of 12 weeks, each participant did 3 WBV sessions per week (1 daily + at least 1 day off). Each training session consisted of a 5-minute warm-up, 18-minute WBV, and 5-minute relaxation exercises.

All exercises were performed on the AV001 Vertical Vibration Platform (BODYGREEN, China), without shoes. Six training positions were used: squat, kneeling, bridge, bridge with leg lift, bridge and knee flex, and back release. Positions were held for 60-90 s and repeated twice. The subjects rested for 30 s between the repetitions. The vibration frequency was 9 Hz and the amplitude 2 mm.

Results

After WBV, the error in the assessment of both lumbar flexion and extension angle decreased from 3.65 ± 2.26 ° to 1.90 ± 1.07 ° (P = 0.0001) or from 3.06 ± 1, 85 ° to 1.61 ± 0.75 ° (P = 0.0001), respectively.

Also, the scale of perceived pain decreased under the influence of WBV: from VAS = 4.62 ± 1.23 to VAS = 3.00 ± 1.38 (P = 0.0001).

Comment

After 12 weeks of vibrotherapy in NSLBP patients, a significant improvement in the proprioception of lumbar flexion and extension was achieved, as well as an improvement in pain: the pain was significantly reduced.

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