Stochastic Resonance Whole-Body Vibration Improves Postural Control in Health Care Professionals

Abstract

Slip, trip, and fall injuries are frequent among health care workers. Stochastic resonance whole-body vibration training was tested to improve postural control. Participants included 124 employees of a Swiss university hospital. The randomized controlled trial included an experimental group given 8 weeks of training and a control group with no intervention. In both groups, postural control was assessed as mediolateral sway on a force plate before and after the 8-week trial. Mediolateral sway was significantly decreased by stochastic resonance whole-body vibration training in the experimental group but not in the control group that received no training ( p < .05). Stochastic resonance whole-body vibration training is an option in the primary prevention of balance-related injury at work.