Use of Vibration-Assisted Exercise in Fibromyalgia Patients

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Use of Vibration-Assisted Exercise in
Fibromyalgia Patients

• Michael Danko, BS, Vu Le, BS, Carol Todd, Dr.
  George Waylonis, MD

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Special Thanks To

• George Waylonis, MD

• Carol Todd

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Vibratory-Assisted Exercise

• Relatively new in the United States
• Has been used in Europe for years for fitness
  training and rehabilitation

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Previous Findings

• Supportive research indicating effectiveness
  with
• Improved muscle strength
• Increased flexibility and range of motion
• Enhanced blood flow
• Increased bone density
• Enhanced pain reduction
• Reduced stress

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Our Project

• The purpose of our work was to determine the
  effects of vibratory-assisted exercise on a group
  of patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS)

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• Power Plate
• Now call VibroGym

• Galileo

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Study Design

• 20 people invited to participate
• All satisfy specific ACR criteria for the
  diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
• None have ever used vibratory-assisted exercise
• 16 session program (twice per week for 8 weeks)
• 16 exercises performed each session
• Exercises all designed by our certified personal
  trainer, who has over 25 years of experience

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Individual Sessions

• 15 of 16 exercises performed while standing on
  the vibrating surface of the machine
• 8 upper body 8 lower body exercises
• Upper body exercises isometric strength
  exercises performed against resistance
• Each exercise performed for 30 sec duration at a
  frequency of 30 Hz
• Duration, frequency, intensity increased at
  patients discretion

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Sample Exercises
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Sample Exercises
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Patient Evaluation

• 22-item Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire
• Pain/Affect Visual Analog Scale
• Physical Functioning Scale
• Each weekly item score was compared to its
  respective pre-program score to track patient
  progression
• Quantitative results derived from weekly patient
  responses

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Sample Size
N 20
N 2 Dropped out after 1st session
N 18
N 6 Dropped out between 1st and last week of
the program
N 12 Completed the program
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Whole Group ResultsPain Visual Analog Scale
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Whole Group ResultsPain/Affect Scale
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Whole Group ResultsFunctioning Scale
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Complete vs. IncompletePain Visual Analog Scale
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Complete vs. IncompletePain/Affect Scale
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Complete vs. IncompleteFunctioning Scale
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Conclusion

• Complete group benefited more
• Vibratory-assisted exercises have the potential
  to alleviate Fibromyalgia symptoms
• Results indicate the need to further research in
  this relatively new therapeutic concept

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Thank You!