Stephan Turbanski

Effects of random whole-body vibration on postural control in Parkinson's disease.

We investigated spontaneous effects of random whole-body vibration (rWBV) on postural control in Parkinsonian subjects. Effects were examined in biomechanical tests from a total of 52 patients divided equally into one experimental and one control group. Postural control was tested pre- and post-treatment in two standardized conditions (narrow standing and tandem standing). The intervention was based on rWBV (y: 3 mm, f: 6 Hz 1 Hz/sec) consisting of 5 series lasting 60 seconds each. The main findings from this study were that (1) rWBV can improve postural stability in Parkinsons disease (PD) spontaneously (2) these effects depend on the test condition. Based on the results of this study, rWBV can be regarded as an additional device in physical therapy in PD.

Proprioceptive and Sensorimotor Performance in Parkinson's Disease

We explored the effects of random whole-body vibration on leg proprioception in Parkinsons disease (PD). In earlier studies it was found that this treatment leads to improved postural control in these patients. Thus, one could speculate that these effects result from modified proprioceptive capabilities. Twenty-eight PD patients were subdivided in one experimental and one control group. Proprioceptive performance was analyzed using a tracking task basing on knee extension and flexion movements. Treatment consisted of 5 series of random whole-body vibration taking 60 seconds each. Control subjects had a rest period instead. Prominent over- and undershooting errors were found in both groups representing proprioceptive impairments. No significant differences became evident, however, either between pre- and post-tests or between experimental and control group. One might therefore conclude that spontaneous improvements in postural control are not directly connected with proprioceptive changes. Nevertheless, one also should keep in mind the general aspects and difficulties of analyzing proprioception.

Training effects of two different unstable shoe constructions on postural control in static and dynamic testing situations

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare training effects on postural control using two different unstable shoe constructions. SUBJECTS AND SETTING Twenty-nine healthy subjects participated in this study and were randomly divided into three groups. Two experimental groups (10 subjects in each group) were assigned to a 6 week training program of specific sensorimotor exercises with unstable shoe constructions, one group using MBT(®) shoes and one group wearing Reflex Control(®) shoes (RC). Subjects in the control group (9 subjects) did not perform balance training. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Postural control was measured in one-leg stance in two testing conditions. We recorded postural sway on a force plate (static testing situation) and displacements of a moveable platform (dynamic testing situation) before and after the training period. RESULTS There were no effects of training with unstable shoe constructions on postural sway in the static testing condition (for comparison of groups: p = 0.990 and p = 0.119). However, the RC group showed statistically significant improvements in the dynamic testing situation (p = 0.014 compared to control subjects). In the MBT group improvements were not significantly different in comparison to control group (p = 0.518). CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that exercises using unstable shoe constructions, particularly the RC, improve postural control only in dynamic conditions.

Comparison of biomechanical and clinical assessment of postural stability in Parkinson’s disease

ditional: 3.8; optimized: 5.6). Conclusion: This study employed a novel design in a combined EEG and MEG setting to compare the efficiency of ‘‘oddball’’ and ‘‘optimum’’ paradigm. MEG may reflect earlier processes than EEG. The larger differences in latency may suggest that the deviance detection as measured by the traditional oddball design reflect more specific stimulus representations. Direct statistical comparison and source analysis should verify these suggestions and allow reliable clinical applications. Supported by IZKF BIOMAT (VV N68h), AstraZeneca.