Acute responses of the passive whole-body vibration on clinical parameters of the COPD individuals: Preliminary outcomes

Abstract

COPD is characterized by persistent limitation in air flow, major chronic inflammation, associated with various local and systemic complications and high frequency of exacerbations, besides the skeletal muscle dysfunction. The passive whole-body vibration (pWBV) is perform when the individuals are exposed to WBV in the sitting position on an auxiliary chair placed in front of the vibrating platform (VP), with the foot position on the base of the VP. This prospective study aimed to show preliminary acute responses of the clinical parameters of the COPD individuals exposed to pWBV. 15 individuals were randomized and allocated into 2 groups: control group and group exposed to pWBV on alternating VP. The individuals were barefoot, 2.5 mm of the peak-to-peak displacement, 25 Hz of the frequency, 5 bouts, working time of 1 min interpased with a rest time of 1 min. Clinical parameters were assessment in the begin and after a single session. The GraphPad Prism 6.0 program was used and appropriate tests were applied (p ≤ 0.05). Clinical parameters did not change after pWBV. The pWBV seem to benefit COPD individuals maintained clinical parameters, without exacerbation of the symptoms.